A Christmas morning escapade went sour when a man, later identified as Austin Erickson, carried out a robbery at Tousley Motorsports in the 1400 block of County Road E East. Ramsey County Sheriff's deputies rushed to the scene after the security system triggered an alert at approximately 6:20 a.m., only to find a scene of destruction: shattered glass, battered doors, and a slew of damaged vehicles, as reported by KSTP.
According to surveillance footage obtained by KSTP, Erickson was caught on camera driving a UTV around the showroom, clumsily ramming through motorcycles and storefront displays before nearly colliding with a law enforcement officer while barreling through a garage door. In a dramatic conclusion, deputies located the suspect not far from the dealership on International Drive, where he was apprehended after a failed attempt to escape on foot.
The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office stated that Erickson faces multiple charges including receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools, criminal damage to property, and fleeing. Jon Osowski, a sales consultant at Tousley Motorsports, described the incident to KARE 11, recounting how the suspect "literally drove over" motorcycles as if in an off-road course.
Despite the seemingly bizarre behavior of trying on clothing and helmets, as though shopping, Erickson failed to steal a vehicle due to a lack of keys. His resultant choice to forcefully drive through three glass garage doors has caused an estimated $500,000 worth of damage, according to KARE 11. The dealership is now closed for cleanup but has expressed hope that customers will return once they reopen.
Affected by the vandalism but grateful no one was injured, Osowski shared with KSTP his relief, stating, "It’s been disruptive, but like I said, no one got hurt and that’s really the priority. So, we’re grateful." As for Tousley Motorsports, a shop with over half a century of family business history, this Christmas has been marred by unwanted excitement, but they remain adamant in their resolve to pick up the pieces and motor on.
