A St. Michael man is in custody and facing felony burglary charges after he attempted to break into the St. Michael CVS Pharmacy store the morning of June 1.
Stephen Michael Schule, 30, of St. Michael is facing second-degree burglary charges (including forcible entry into a pharmacy) and second degree possession of burglary tools, both felonies. The two crimes carry a sentence of 10 years and/or $20,000 in fines each, if convicted.
Wright County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chad Torkelson was dispatched to the CVS store, located at the intersection of Central Avenue and Edgewood Drive, shortly after 6:30 a.m. on June 1 after a business alarm alerted dispatchers at the Wright County Communications Center.
Upon arrival, Torkelson arrived on scene and noticed the building been entered via forced entry near the store’s drive-thru window.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Wright County District Court, Torkelson found burglary tools, including a hammer and a fire extinguisher, laying on the ground near the area of entry. A backpack was also found during search of the scene.
An employee of the store with a key arrived at CVS and permitted deputies to enter the area. Upon initial investigation, two deputies discovered various medications had been stolen from the pharmacy area. A search inside the backpack also revealed a trespass citation that was issued to a Stephen Michael Schule, 30, of St. Michael, issued by the Minneapolis Police Department via the Hennepin County Medical Center.
The two deputies scanned sheriff’s office records and located a photograph of Schule, who lived just a block away from the pharmacy in St. Michael. Torkelson also scanned surveillance video and matched a person on the tape to Schule’s photograph on record. The tape showed Schule breaking the drive-thru glass and entering the store.
The two deputies attempted to find Schule at his residence on Town Center Drive in St. Michael. Both officers noticed blood, which appeared to be fresh, on the floor and door handle to the residence, the complaint continues.
After no one answered, Torkelson called a number for Patrick Schule. Stephen Schule answered the phone, and told Torkelson he was in Minneapolis for several days, the complaint states. When Torkelson informed Schule a search warrant was being obtained for the residence, Stephen Schule ended the call.
However, two minutes later, Patrick Schule opened the door and allowed deputies to enter the residence. Patrick told the officers Stephen was hiding in an upstairs bedroom. Patrick Schule brought Stephen Schule down to the common living area, where Stephen was placed under arrest and transported by ambulance to Buffalo Hospital for a self-reported overdose, the complaint continues.
A search of the defendant’s room revealed a Ziploc-style bag with several miscellaneous pills and tablets.
Under questioning, Stephen Schule told officers his recollection of the morning of June 1 was hazy. He did, however, recall attempting to break the window of the CVS store with a hammer, and also using a fire extinguisher to break glass.
Schule is currently being held in the Wright County Jail after making an initial court appearance.