Petersen was arrested on a warrant Dec. 10, 2019, according to the criminal complaint. In his pockets were several credit cards and identification cards belonging to other people. The van he was driving contained more bank cards, social security cards, keys, death certificates, tools, and a package, all belonging to other people.
At least six of the thefts referenced in the complaint happened when a driver left their car unlocked and unattended for a short time to drop a child off at day care, stop at the dog groomer’s or park at a restaurant. The tools were removed from work trucks parked overnight at a Superior hotel. The package, containing boots and a tassel maker kit, had been expected to arrive three days before it was found in the van.