A suspect who stole an American flag from an Edina property Wednesday morning and dragged it behind his vehicle before being chased off by bystanders returned to the property the same afternoon and shredded the flag, according to messages received by Crime Watch Minneapolis.
Crime Watch received a report along with pictures and video from an occupant at the medical office building near 66th and York Avenue South Wednesday morning stating that a suspect had stolen the American flag from outside the building, attached it to the back of his vehicle and dragged the flag behind the vehicle before bystanders chased him off and retrieved the flag.
Submitted from vibrant Richfield Minnesota this morning:
"This person just tried to steal our America flag that was hanging on the pole outside of our building located at York Ave and 66th Street in Edina. He pulled the flag down and then stuck it in the back of his trunk and was… pic.twitter.com/xr4YHUiJnF— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) August 26, 2026
Following the morning post, Crime Watch learned from a source that the suspect was Mahamud Hassan Mahamed, 24, who resides in south Minneapolis.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Crime Watch received new messages from two separate people stating that Mahamed had returned to the Edina property and “shredded” the flag.
One of the sources told Crime Watch that Mahamed had subsequently been trespassed from the property. A check of jail records showed Mahamed had been booked into custody on a misdemeanor tab charge of fourth-degree damage to property.
Court records show Mahamed has at least one active felony case on a charge of threats of violence stemming from an April incident with another party at his south Minneapolis apartment building. A court hearing on the charge was scheduled for Wednesday, the same day as the vandalism. Records indicate that probable cause was found, and a jury trial was scheduled for Nov. 16, 2026. Minnesota court records also show that Mahamed has at least five prior convictions on traffic-related cases.
Mahamed was also arrested earlier this month and booked into Hennepin County Jail on a probable cause charge of DWI but was released pending a formal complaint.
Mahamed remained in custody as of Thursday afternoon on $2,000 cash bail or $200 conditional release.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
