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Car Theft Suspects Face Several Charges After Arrest in Rice
RICE -- Two people are facing several charges following an arrest in Rice Thursday.
The incident happened at about 2:30 p.m. at at the Dollar General Store.
Chief Ross Hamann says he was doing a routine license plate check, when the vehicle came up as being stolen. Hamann followed the suspects into the store. When confronted the suspects gave police a false name.
A background check confirmed the suspects were not who they claimed they were. The suspects were later identified as 30-year-old James Maldonardo of Bowlus, and 29-year-old Sara Smith, of Sauk Rapids.
Smith told police she was aware the vehicle was stolen when she got into it with Maldonardo. Police also search Smith's purse and found brass knuckles, a glass pipe, two other pipes and two bottles of prescription drugs.
Maldonardo and Smith were arrested and taken to the Benton County Jail.
Maldonardo faces charges of theft of a motor vehicle, giving a false name to police, and driving after revocation. Smith faces charges of aiding and abetting theft of a stolen vehicle, giving a false name to police, possession of a deadly weapon, and drug charges.
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