14-CR-21-1419 Filed in District Court

State of Minnesota
4/29/2021

State of Minnesota District Court
County of Clay 7th Judicial District
Prosecutor File No. 21010727
Court File No. 14-CR-21-1419

State of Minnesota, COMPLAINT
Plaintiff, Order of Detention
vs.
BENJAMIN STEWART ENDERLE    DOB: 11/19/1998
1615 20th St. S. #24
Moorhead, MN 56560
Defendant.

The Complainant submits this complaint to the Court and states that there is probable cause to believe
Defendant committed the following offense(s):
COUNT I
Charge: Harassment - Bias
Minnesota Statute: 609.749.2(b)(1), with reference to:  609.749.3(a), 609.749.2(c)(1)
Maximum Sentence: 0-5 years imprisonment and $10,000 fine
Offense Level: Gross Misdemeanor
Offense Date (on or about): 04/24/2021 to 04/25/2021
Control #(ICR#): 21010727
Charge Description: On or about April 24, 2021 in Clay County, State of Minnesota one BENJAMIN
STEWART ENDERLE, DOB 11/19/98, did directly or indirectly, or through third parties, manifest a
purpose or intent to injure the person, property, or rights of another by the commission of an unlawful act,
to wit: criminal damage to property, and did so due to the victim's or another's perceived race, color,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability or nationa origin.
COUNT II
Charge: Criminal Damage to Property in the Second Degree
Minnesota Statute: 609.595.1a(a), with reference to:  609.595.1a(a)
Maximum Sentence: 0- 1year and 1 day imprisonment and $3,000 fine
Offense Level: Felony
Offense Date (on or about): 04/24/2021 to 04/25/2021
Control #(ICR#): 21010727
Charge Description: On or about April 24, 2021 in Clay County, Minnesota one BENJAMIN STEWART
ENDERLE, DOB 11/19/98 did intentionally cause damage to another person's physical property without
the other person's consent and causes such damage because of the property owner's or another's actual
or perceived race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability as defined in section 363A.03, age, or
national origin.
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 14-CR-21-1419 Filed in District Court
State of Minnesota
STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE 4/29/2021

 
The Complainant states that the following facts establish probable cause:
 
On April 25, 2021, at approximately 5:18 a.m., Moorhead Police Officer B. Heide was dispatched to take a
vandalism report at the Moorhead/Fargo Islamic Community Center located in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Upon arrival, the officer met with OMH who indicated that someone had spray painted the building at some
point during the evening. OMH indicated he left the building around 11:00 pm on April 24, 2021 and the
graffiti wasn’t on the building. OMH stated that there was video footage from surveillance cameras around
the building. Officer Heide photographed the building that had been painted in red spray paint. The officer
noted that the terms spray painted on the center included paint on the “women” entrance which made the
entrance read “women can’t vote”. On other areas on and around the building there was swatstika and
phrases such as “Death to Islam”, “Go to hell”, “Nigger”, “Fuck you” and “Kane lives.” OMH indicated he
would provide the video footage to the Moorhead Police Department. 

Sgt. Krone was assigned to investigate the matter and responded to the scene. Sgt. Krone spoke with JA
who indicated that the last prayer would have occurred on April 24, 2021 between 10:00 pm – 11:15 pm
and the first prayer on April 25, 2021 would have been at 5:00 am. Sgt. Krone further spoke with IY who
provided a USB of video surveillance with a lone suspect shown arriving at the Center at approximately
11:37 pm. The video depicted the suspect walking around various sides of the building but did not show
him actually painting the slurs. 

In an attempt to identify the suspect, still photographs were released to the public. As a result, DY
contacted the Moorhead Police Department to report that after reviewing recent sales for red spray paint at
the Walmart located in Dilworth, DY had footage of a male buying red spray paint on April 24, 2021 at
approximately 11:28 am and the person matched the description of the suspect in the Center’s surveillance
video. DY further described the vehicle in which the suspect left the area. DY was also able to provide a
copy of the receipt and payment method used by the suspect and another individual who was with him.
Based on the information, Sgt. Krone was able to trace the account and vehicle to a male identified as
BENJAMIN STEWART ENDERLE,DOB 11/19/98, hereinafter referred to as the defendant. 

Sgt. Krone applied for and was granted a search warrant for the defendant, his residence and his vehicle.
On April 27, 2021 at approximately 5:52 pm, the search warrant was executed at the defendant’s
residence and he was taken into custody. The defendant was read his Miranda warnings and agreed to
speak with Sgt. Krone. During that conversation, the defendant admitted he had spray painted the Center
and said he did it as a joke. The defendant stated he doesn’t “hate them”. He further stated he did it to get
a reaction from the community and the media. The defendant stated that he acted alone and did not have
any help from his roommate. The defendant indicated that he had thrown the paint can in his garbage can
however the garbage had already been picked up for the week at the time the search warrant was
executed. 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.49., intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled
court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may
otherwise be issued by the Court.

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 14-CR-21-1419 Filed in District Court
State of Minnesota
SIGNATURES AND APPROVALS 4/29/2021

Complainant requests that Defendant, subject to bail or conditions of release, be:
(1) arrested or that other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendant's appearance in court; or
(2) detained, if already in custody, pending further proceedings; and that said Defendant otherwise
be dealt with according to law.
Complainant declares under penalty of perjury that everything stated in this document is true and
correct. Minn. Stat. § 358.116; Minn. R. Crim. P. 2.01, subds. 1, 2.

Complainant Robert Matheson Electronically Signed:

Sergeant 04/29/2021 08:39 AM
911 11th Street N Clay County,  Minnesota
Moorhead, MN 56560
Badge: 206

Being authorized to prosecute the offenses charged, I approve this complaint.

Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Foss Electronically Signed:

Assistant Clay County Attorney 04/28/2021 04:32 PM
807 11th Street N
Moorhead, MN 56560
(218) 299-5035

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 14-CR-21-1419 Filed in District Court
State of Minnesota
FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE 4/29/2021
From the above sworn facts, and any supporting affidavits or supplemental sworn testimony, I, the Issuing Officer, have
determined that probable cause exists to support, subject to bail or conditions of release where applicable, Defendant’s arrest
or other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendant’s appearance in court, or Defendant’s detention, if already in custody,
pending further proceedings. Defendant is therefore charged with the above-stated offense(s).

SUMMONS
THEREFORE YOU, THE DEFENDANT, ARE SUMMONED to appear as directed in the Notice of Hearing before the
above-named court to answer this complaint.
IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR in response to this SUMMONS, a WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST shall be issued.

WARRANT
To the Sheriff of the above-named county; or other person authorized to execute this warrant: I order, in the name of the State
of Minnesota, that the Defendant be apprehended and arrested without delay and brought promptly before the court (if in
session), and if not, before a Judge or Judicial Officer of such court without unnecessary delay, and in any event not later than
36 hours after the arrest or as soon as such Judge or Judicial Officer is available to be dealt with according to law.

Execute in MN Only Execute Nationwide Execute in Border States

X ORDER OF DETENTION
Since the Defendant is already in custody, I order, subject to bail or conditions of release, that the Defendant continue to be
detained pending further proceedings.

Bail:  $
Conditions of Release:  

This complaint, duly subscribed and sworn to or signed under penalty of perjury, is issued by the undersigned Judicial Officer
as of the following date: April 29, 2021.

Judicial Officer Jade Rosenfeldt Electronically Signed: 04/29/2021 08:45 AM

Judge

Sworn testimony has been given before the Judicial Officer by the following witnesses:
 

COUNTY OF CLAY
STATE OF MINNESOTA

State of Minnesota
Plaintiff LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER RETURN OF SERVICE
I hereby Certify and Return that I have served a copy of this Order of
vs. Detention upon the Defendant herein named.
Signature of Authorized Service Agent:
Benjamin Stewart Enderle
Defendant

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 14-CR-21-1419 Filed in District Court
State of Minnesota
DEFENDANT FACT SHEET 4/29/2021

Name: Benjamin Stewart Enderle
DOB: 11/19/1998
Address: 1615 20th St. S. #24
Moorhead, MN 56560

Alias Names/DOB:
SID:  
Height:
Weight:
Eye Color:
Hair Color:
Gender: MALE
Race:
Fingerprints Required per Statute: Yes
Fingerprint match to Criminal History Record: No
Driver's License #:  
Alcohol Concentration:

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 14-CR-21-1419 Filed in District Court
State of Minnesota
STATUTE AND OFFENSE GRID 4/29/2021
Cnt Statute Offense Statute Nbrs and Descriptions Offense MOC GOC Controlling Case
Nbr Type Date(s) Level Agencies Numbers

1 Charge 4/24/2021 609.749.2(b)(1) Gross N1311 N MN0140400 21010727

Harassment - Reasonable fear of Misdemeanor
substantial bodily harm

  Penalty 4/24/2021 609.749.3(a) Felony N1311 N MN0140400 21010727

Harassment - Aggravated Violations -
Penalty

2 Charge 4/24/2021 609.595.1a(a) Felony P1129 N MN0140400 21010727

Damage Property - 2nd Degree -
Because of Bias
  Penalty 4/24/2021 609.595.1a(a) Felony P1129 N MN0140400 21010727
Damage Property - 2nd Degree -
Because of Bias