Suspect in custody in connection to assault, vehicle theft in New Ulm

Polic in New Ulm believe an assault and vehicle theft that occurred Tuesday night are related.

According to the New Ulm Police Department, on Tuesday at about 9:01 p.m., police responded to a McDonald’s on a report of an assault that occurred in the drive-thru line.

The victim reported a man walked up to the window and punched the victim in the face. The man left the scene on foot.

At around 9:14 p.m., police received another call responding to a Kwik Trip about a stolen white SUV.

Officers and deputies recalled seeing the stolen vehicle traveling south of Broadway Street while on the previous call. The owner of the white SUV advised officers of a handgun that was stored in the glove compartment.

The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office and other area agencies were notified of the stolen vehicle. Later, around 11:45 p.m., the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office located the stolen vehicle unoccupied on Highway 169 near the Faribault County Line. Deputies advised the glove compartment was left open and the handgun missing.

Through investigation, the New Ulm Police Department was able to identify Matthew Dennis Smith of St. Paul as a suspect.

On Wednesday at about 9:00 a.m., the Blue Earth County Deputies responded to the Amboy area for a suspicious person complaint. The man matched the suspect’s description and deputies took Smith into custody without incident.

Smith is currently being held in the Brown County Jail.

The New Ulm Police Department believe these two incidents are related. The firearm has not been recovered.