The Golden Valley Police Department (GVPD) reports recovery of the sixth of seven cars stolen early morning Tuesday, Aug 15, 2023, from Morrie's Recon Center in the 700 block of Colorado Ave S, Golden Valley, as well as the Porsche stolen early morning Thursday, Aug 17, from Porsche Minneapolis in the 9500 block of Wayzata Blvd, Golden Valley.
According to Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green, the Porsche had been involved in North Minneapolis pursuit that entered Golden Valley at approximately 9 am Aug 17, where the vehicle was lost around Hwy 100 and Duluth St. It was later spotted on several MnDOT highway cams around the metro area.
Green said the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, recovered the Porsche Aug 17 and a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro Aug 18, at which time a male, who has been identified as Brian Gene Baragar, was taken into custody.
“The 2013 Camaro was one of the seven vehicles stolen from Morrie’s Recon Center in Golden Valley Aug 15,” said Green. ”We now have recovered six of the seven vehicles from that theft, with the 2023 Subaru Forester as the outstanding vehicle.”
“Golden Valley Police Department detectives are working with multiple agencies to investigate these car thefts,” said Green. “The suspect arrested this morning has been positively identified in a Golden Valley auto theft from Morrie’s Cadillac on Sunday morning Aug 13, where a GMC Sierra was stolen. He has also been identified as one of the suspects in the Aug 15 auto thefts from Morrie’s Recon Center, as well as the suspect who was in the Porsche that crashed Aug 17 at 52nd and Vincent in Minneapolis and fled from the scene.”
“GVPD investigators learned from Minneapolis Police Department investigators that this same suspect has a criminal history of auto theft and had recently spat on officers after being taken into custody after a pursuit,” said Green. “It sounds like officers were shocked to find out he had been released from custody in Hennepin County and was back out in the community committing other auto theft crimes.”
“When law enforcement makes these arrests, prosecutors must ensure guys like Bargar and others are not able to be released back into our communities and commit other violent criminal offenses,” said Green. “We have at least seven additional suspects to identify, all who were involved in the Morrie’s auto theft, and we have some very good surveillance footage that will help us identify them.”
“We continue to seek the public’s assistance in these investigations,” he adds. “If you have any information, call 911 or contact GVPD at 763-593-8059 or email us at police@goldenvalleymn.gov.