Woodbury Police Nab Burglary Suspects In Red Roof Inn Stakeout

Two St. Paul men accused of burglary in a Woodbury parking garage on Feb. 2 appeared in Washington County court Thursday morning singing two very different tunes.

Danny Joe Beach, 40, waived his right to an omnibus hearing and pleaded guilty to felony third-degree burglary before District Court Judge Mary Hannon. Beach was scheduled to be sentenced on April 26.

Darnell Steven Cox, 21, however, entered no plea and demanded a speedy omnibus hearing, which Judge Elizabeth Martin scheduled for March 21.

According to a Washington County warrant complaint filed on Feb. 6, Beach and Cox were seen by residents breaking into cars in an underground parking garage in the 1700 block of Century Circle.

They were arrested and charged with felony third-degree burglary after Woodbury police used witness statements and surveillance video to locate the duo's stolen Nissan Altima in the parking lot of Red Roof Inn.

One resident of the apartment building estimated the value of items stolen from his car to be in excess of $450, with an additional $300 in damages to the vehicle, the complaint states.

It also states two other residents of the reported items stolen from their vehicles, including a pair of women's pants and two crowbars.

During a post-arrest search of Cox, police found a plastic baggie that contained a substance later confirmed to be methamphetamine. 

Cox has not been charged with a drug offense but during the investigation Woodbury detectives did learn he was suspected in "multiple burglaries" that had taken place in the Century Circle parking garage.

A third-degree burglary conviction carries with it a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.