Fourteen-time Convicted Felon Awaits Dakota County Hearings in Latest Burglary, Theft Cases

A 51-year-old South St. Paul man is in Dakota County Jail awaiting a Jan. 17 omnibus hearing in connection with a string of felony charges dating back to March 2011.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County Court on Dec. 19:

Inver Grove Heights (IGH) police were dispatched to the assisted living community, Presbyterian Homes, on Oct. 7 on the report of a company van stolen from an underground parking lot.

Responding officers distributed still images from a parking lot surveillance video to neighboring police departments to determine the man's identity.  

An investigator from the South St. Paul police department—who confirmed the man to be David Allen Dahl—informed IGH police Dahl was wanted in South St. Paul on two separate charges of felony second-degree burglary, felony terroristic threats and felony motor vehicle theft.  

IGH police issued a warrant for Dahl's arrest.

According to the complaint, IGH police also received a call from an apartment manager on Oct. 19 reporting a burglary at the complex.

A review of the surveillance video again showed a man confirmed to be Dahl prying open the door of the underground parking structure and committing several crimes over a period of hours.

All told, Dahl is charged with four counts of felony second-degree burglary, three counts of felony theft, one count of felony terroristic threats and a count of driving after cancellation of his license—a gross misdemeanor.

A review of Dahl's criminal history revealed at least 21 aliases and 14 felony convictions for crimes ranging from burglary and theft to possession of drugs and dangerous weapons spanning back to 1991.

If convicted of the current charges against him, Dahl is facing a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison and a $110,000 fine.