NEW ULM — Seven felony counts and a dozen total counts were filed in Brown County District Court Monday against a 26-year-old Granite Falls man accused of being involved with the theft of about a dozen catalytic converters in New Ulm and Nicollet last March.

Three felony first-degree damage to property counts, three felony theft, one attempted felony theft plus misdemeanor damage to property, and four tampering with a motor vehicle without owner permission counts were filed against McKenzie M. Notch June 28. A court appearance was set for 8:30 a.m., July 13.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police responded to a damaged vehicle report at 9:16 a.m., March 9, 2021 at 200 Valley St. S. At the scene, a man said his work vehicle was parked overnight and when he started it that morning, the exhaust was noticeably louder than the day before. He soon noticed two cuts made into the exhaust as if someone tried to remove a catalytic converter. The estimated repair cost was $2,163.

At about 11:20 a.m. March 9, police took a call from a man who said a catalytic converter was cut off his work truck, a tran 1993 Ford F150, in New Ulm while it was parked near a business. The man said he got a call from a friend who heard a loud, buzzing sound about 4:30 to 5 a.m. on March 9. The man said a pipe was cut from a truck the suspects left behind. Damage was estimated at $1,095.75.

On March 11, a man called New Ulm Police to report a catalytic converter theft from a customer’s vehicle, a 2005 Chevy Silverado, at 520 Valley St. S. Damage reportedly done by a reciprocating saw, was estimated at $1,000.

On March 15, a caller reported a catalytic converter was cut and stolen from a customer’s vehicle parked in front of a shop at 121 Valley St. S.

Police responded to a repair shop and a man showed them surveillance of a vehicle traveling north on Valley Street, then south on Valley St. A man was seen exiting the suspect vehicle, walking to the truck and shining a flashlight underneath, then returning to his vehicle.

Ten minutes later, the suspect returned, walked toward the truck and emerged from it after a vehicle passed by and placed an item, presumably a catalytic converter, into the suspect vehicle’s trunk. The suspect got back in his vehicle and drove away.

Officers were in contact with Nicollet County deputies about the increase in area thefts and learned that a suspect vehicle, a silver, 2006 Chrysler Sebring, in a Nicollet County case, matched the vehicle in a New Ulm theft surveillance video.

On March 10, the Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office contacted New Ulm Police regarding two suspects apprehended, believed to be responsible for numerous area catalytic converter thefts, after a traffic stop near Courtland the day before.

The male driver identified as Notch, had a revoked driver’s license and citation. A female passenger had a valid license and drove the parties away from the traffic stop.

At a subsequent traffic stop on March 10, law enforcement found about 17 grams of methamphetamine, about a dozen catalytic converters, and two bags of burglary tools including saws, flashlights, masks, gloves, and other items.

In a March 11 interview with Nicollet County authorities, Notch and the female said they stole three catalytic converters near the railroad tracks in New Ulm.

Reviewing evidence obtained by Nicollet County authorities, New Ulm Police identified some of the stolen catalytic converters.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.