A 37-year-old Saint Anthony man faces six criminal charges in connection with an alleged attempted pickup theft in Maplewood and a later attempt to get out of his handcuffs, according to the case account. Robert Millhouse Wilson is charged with attempted second-degree burglary, attempted motor-vehicle theft, attempted escape from custody, third-degree property damage, fleeing an officer on foot and giving a peace officer false identifying information. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Family Spots Stranger in Silverado
MN Crime reported, citing a criminal complaint linked in the case record, that Wilson allegedly attempted to enter a building without consent on or about September 23 in Ramsey County. The complaint account also describes an attempted vehicle theft at a Maplewood residence. A family member reportedly found an unknown man inside a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado parked outside the home; a woman in the home later saw Wilson in the truck after the family dog began barking. The case record and MN Crime's report provide the available account of the allegations.
The outlet reported that the family checked Ring doorbell footage, which appeared to show someone tampering with the truck, and called police. When officers arrived, family members pointed out a man by the side of the house. Officers reportedly saw that the Silverado's steering column had been cracked open, exposing ignition wires. The homeowner said the truck belonged to a relative and estimated the damage at $500.
Foot Chase Ends at Church Parking Lot
According to the outlet's account of the complaint, Wilson ran when an officer ordered him to stop, going over a fence and into a wooded area. Police set up a perimeter and used a K9 unit to search nearby, including the parking lot of the Saint Paul Hmong Alliance Church.
A pastor reportedly told officers that an unknown man had entered the church; a janitor said the man came in and quickly left through the lower east doors. An officer then saw Wilson outside those doors, and Ramsey County deputies took him into custody. The complaint account also alleges that Wilson tried to enter a nearby home by manipulating its front door handle, an attempt reportedly captured on CCTV.
Handcuff Escape Attempt and False ID
The complaint account says Wilson gave officers a false name and birthdate. An officer later noticed movement in the back of the squad car and reportedly found that Wilson had tried to unlock his handcuffs with a safety pin.
The six counts allege attempted second-degree burglary of a dwelling with attempted theft; attempted motor-vehicle theft without the owner's consent; attempted escape from custody while held on a lawful arrest; third-degree property damage involving reduced value between $501 and $1,000; fleeing a peace officer by a means other than a motor vehicle; and giving a peace officer a false name, birthdate or identification card. Minnesota classifies burglary by degree under section 609.582 of state statute. First-degree burglary carries up to 20 years in prison, second-degree burglary — which includes entering any dwelling — up to 10 years, and third-degree burglary up to five years; fourth-degree burglary is a gross misdemeanor. Possessing burglary or theft tools is a separate offense under section 609.59 and carries up to three years in prison.
Vehicle theft in Minnesota and Maplewood
The Minnesota Department of Commerce's 2022 Automobile Theft Prevention Program report says grantees reported 23,276 vehicles stolen over the grant cycle. Maplewood Police Department's 2025 Community Information Report records 123 reported motor vehicle thefts in the city that year, 91 of them confirmed. Both figures concern reported thefts, not attempted thefts, and do not establish details about the allegations in this case.
Wilson was convicted of auto theft in 2022 and was arrested while driving stolen vehicles in February and August of this year; those cases are still pending. The charges in this case remain allegations, and Wilson is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
