Daryl Jorissen faces felonies for allegedly cutting out catalytic converters

Weeks after a string of catalytic converter thefts prompted the Bloomington Police Department to issue a crime alert, Daryl Jorrisen was allegedly caught in the act.

Jorrisen, a 36-year-old Fridley resident, faces two felonies for allegedly cutting out two catalytic converters worth a combined value of more than $3,500.

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Late last month, a man told police the catalytic converter had been cut from his 2014 truck, which was parked at 11521 K-Tel Drive in Minnetonka at the time.

"Police received information that [Jorissen]... was a suspect in a series of similar crimes in the Twin Cities," a criminal complaint says. "Police learned that, on January 24, 2015, [Jorissen] pawned a catalytic converter with unique part numbers to [the victim's] truck at Metro Metals. [Jorissen's] transaction was captured on closed circuit television."

Investigators started surveilling Jorissen. Last Thursday, they followed him to the Staybridge Suites at 5150 American Blvd W. in Bloomington. They looked on as he got out of his vehicle with a Sawzall, crawled under a hotel van, and went to work.

"Police observed [Jorissen] cutting the exhaust system of the van," the complaint continues. "[Jorissen] crawled out from under the van with what appeared to be a catalytic converter which he placed in his vehicle."

Jorissen was arrested, and under questioning, he admitted to both of the aforementioned thefts.

Jorissen's criminal record includes priors for aiding and abetting the theft of a motor vehicle, DWI, burglary, and disorderly conduct. He's been released from custody.

A Bloomington PD spokesperson didn't immediately return a message seeking an update on the problem the city has been experiencing with catalytic converter thefts.