Men Ripped Roseville ATM Off Ground Using Chains, F-250: Police

ROSEVILLE, MN — Four Texans and a Minnesotan teamed up this week to yank a Roseville bank's cash-loaded ATM from the ground using a pickup truck, according to police.

Houston residents Christopher Merchant, 23, Kenneth D. Brown, 23, Leonard D. Williams, 25, and St. Paul resident Dekorius Durham, 22, were charged Wednesday in Ramsey County.

If convicted, they face up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Federal investigators are looking into the incident because it may be linked to the Texas-based "Hook and Chain Gang," the Star Tribune reported.

"It should be noted that there have been more than 50 thefts matching this method of operation since 2021," the criminal complaint states. "Investigation regarding other ATM thefts is ongoing."

On Tuesday at about 4 p.m., Roseville police responded to Great Southern Bank to investigate alarms triggered at an ATM.

At the scene, an officer saw a white 2006 Ford F-250 pickup truck exiting the bank’s driveway with chains dragging behind the truck and sparking on the road, according to the criminal complaint.

There was also a damaged ATM lying in the bank parking lot with more than $5,000 in it, prosecutors said.

The officer tried to pull the truck over using its emergency lights, but the vehicle fled, began weaving, and then drove over a median and a large rock with the driver’s door open, police said.

The driver bailed out of the vehicle, but the truck continued moving and ultimately crashed into a car and a yellow bus parked nearby, according to investigators.

All three vehicles were heavily damaged, authorities said.

After a "lengthy" foot chase, the man was arrested and identified as Kenneth Deandtray Brown, 23, according to the criminal complaint.

Police said they recovered a green and white hotel keycard from Brown's pocket and his Texas ID card.

At the Key Inn, a front desk employee reported that shortly after he saw police responding to the bank, four men entered the hotel lobby and went into one of the hotel rooms, according to the criminal complaint.

The four men were identified as Durham, Dean, Merchant, and Williams. The hotel room they went into was rented using Brown's I.D., according to police.

Police asked the occupants to exit the room with their hands up, the criminal complaint states. When they ignored the commands, the Ramsey County SWAT team arrived and gave multiple announcements and commands that were also ignored, according to police.

After obtaining a search warrant, police breached the exterior windows of the room and arrested four men, the criminal complaint states.

In surveillance footage from the bank, Merchant is seen using a crowbar on the ATM and helping Williams attack chains onto it, the criminal complaint states.

Gill is seen helping lift the ATM after it fell over, police said.