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Crime Alert: Police are Looking for This Man—Again

Police want to hear from you if you see Mark Christopher Bell.

 

Golden Valley Police say they've had eight additional contacts with a man arrested and released from jail earlier this month after they say he attempted to solicit money from residents.

Police say Mark Christopher Bell failed to appear in court for his March 3 arrest, and police have issued a new warrant for his arrest today. Police are asking you to call 911 if you've seen Bell or have any information as to his whereabouts.

Golden Valley police initially arrested Bell for soliciting without a permit after a resident called police around three weeks ago. The caller told police that Bell was going door-to-door saying he needed help because his car had broken down on the highway.

Police found Bell and say they disproved his story and arrested him. He was booked and released, but didn't show up for his court date this week.

Police say Bell looked for opportunities to steal and often told people that he had just come from church, or that he needed money to get his vehicle out of impound or that his vehicle had broken down. Some people had given him cash and, in one case, someone actually drove him to a cash machine to give him money, police say.

Police cite a lengthy criminal history for Bell dating to 1983, including drug charges and episodes of burglary, forgery, robbery, fleeing police, weapons violations and theft. 

Related Topics: Golden Valley Police, crime Golden Valley, mark christopher bell, and police golden valley

Kay Gordon

10:08 am on Saturday, March 26, 2011

Thank you for updating us on this man. My neighbor ran into the guy, but had read about him in Patch a few weeks ago and drove away. We love Patch! Such a great addition to Golden Valley, the best community in the Twin Cities!

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Blaine Garrett

1:08 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013

This guy just hit Seward neighborhood over the last few days. Police have been notified numerous times.

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Valerie Engler

6:35 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013

Blaine, thank you for your comment! We'll be following up on this. Stay tuned.

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