Charges: Man Stole Beer, Teacher's Wallet At Science Museum

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 52-year-old man has been accused of stealing two six packs of beer and a teacher's wallet at the Science Museum, according to charges filed by Ramsey County.

Woodbury man Mark Paul Murto now faces one felony count of third-degree burglary in connection to the March 22 and March 23 incident.

According to the criminal complaint, St. Paul Police received a report from the Science Museum Security Office that someone stole two six packs of beer from a non-public kitchen of the Museum on March 23. Police also learned of a teacher's wallet stolen from a non-public classroom area of the museum on March 22.

Police reviewed the surveillance video and observed a man entering both non-public areas and leaving. In the March 23 instance, he's seen carrying the two six packs out of the kitchen. He's described as 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 in height, a light complexion and dark moustache, wearing a blue denim jacket, a navy or black hooded sweatshirt and white USA lettering on the front and a maroon University of Minnesota baseball hat and all white tennis shoes.

Two days later, an off-duty cop working at the museum spotted the same man in the surveillance videos, wearing the same clothes, enter the Science Museum. Police stopped the man, identified as Murto, and arrested him for burglary, the complaint said.

In an interview the following day, Murto admitted to being in downtown St. Paul over the weekend to attend the college hockey tournament. He talked about his heavy alcohol use and said that he's subject to blackouts, but said he does recall going into the Science Museum to use the restroom, the complaint said.

However, after being confronted with the video evidence against him, Murto stated that he wanted a lawyer because he needed to talk with someone who could "tell him what to say." He continued to talk, and said "The beer thing, OK. I don't even remember where I got that, but I got some beer and they showed me carrying two things of Heineken, I think," according to the complaint.

Police add that Murto has had numerous criminal convictions in Minnesota, including five burglary convictions, a financial transaction card fraud conviction, a fifth-degree assault conviction and a theft conviction.

If convicted of his alleged crime, Murto could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.