Mpls Woman Charged for Raiding Refrigerator in Columbia Heights

A Minneapolis woman is facing first degree burglary charges for allegedly raiding a man’s refrigerator in Columbia Heights.  

Officers with the Columbia Heights Police Department were called to the 4300 block of Third Street on report of a burglary in progress on Saturday, July 21. The victim told police he and his brother had captured the suspect in the home.

When officers arrived, they found Ben Wasche and Chris Wasche holding a woman inside. The woman was identified as 18-year-old Tyra Shavell McCoy.  

Ben Wasche told officers he rents the house and that his brother Chris came over with his wife and three children shortly before the burglary. According to the criminal complaint, the residents were downstairs talking when they heard footsteps upstairs.

Chris Wasche told police that he investigated and found McCoy going through the refrigerator, and her arms were full of food and bottles of liquor. When confronted, McCoy allegedly told the men she had arrived there with another man and the man told her to go inside and get some food.

The Wasches weren’t able to find anyone outside, and they told police McCoy kept changing her story. When Ben Wasche threatened to call police, the woman attempted to run, but the brothers were able to detain her until officers arrived.

The woman originally told police officers her name was Ilandrea Jolisa Nichols, which was a real person in the police system. She later told police her name was Tyra Shavell McCoy. She had a blood alcohol content of .17.

She’s been charged with first degree burglary and providing false information to police.