St. Paul man sentenced for possession of drugs and burglary tools in Walnut Grove

A St. Paul man, Huaxi Keefe Yang, age 23, was sentenced in Redwood County Court for felony level possession of drugs and burglary tools.

According to court documents, on April 2 of this year, law enforcement was notified of a burglary in progress at an apartment complex in Walnut Grove. The caller stated three males wearing black jackets and disposable COVID masks had fled from the scene. A Redwood County deputy located the car traveling eastbound on Highway 14. He stopped the vehicle, and ordered the driver out a gunpoint, then one of the passengers.

Both men complied with the deputies orders, were arrested and placed in the squad car without incident. The third passenger, Yang, also complied. A search of the vehicle revealed extensive burglary tools, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.

In a later interview, the landlord of the apartment building stated he had received a text stating one of the apartments was in the process of being broken into. When the landlord went to investigate, he was confronted by two men who had apparently just left that apartment. Law enforcement noted signs of breaking and entering around the apartment door, and some stolen property that had apparently been dropped on the floor in a hallway.

On Oct. 6, Yang was sentenced for possession of drugs and burglary tools to a combination of 12 months one day at the correctional facility in St. Cloud, stayed three years, supervised probation for three years, 41 days local confinement, and fines and fees of $435.