EP man charged with possessing automatic weapon conversion device on pistol

An Eden Prairie man has been charged in Hennepin County District Court with possessing a device that converts a pistol into an automatic firearm.

Marquez Demar Hill-Turnipseed, 19, was arrested by Eden Prairie Police Dec. 29, following a brief high-speed chase on Prairie Center Drive. Officers were attempting to stop the vehicle after discovering that its registration had been revoked.

After stopping, Hill-Turnipseed ran from the car followed by a K-9 partner. Officers saw him throw two guns to the ground as he ran. After apprehending the suspect, officers found the guns, one of which was a Glock pistol fitted with a device that converted the weapon into an automatic firearm – a felony, the police complaint said.

Officers later tested the gun and confirmed that the pistol operated as an automatic weapon, police said.

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Hill-Turnipseed is a suspect in multiple Twin Cities-area shootings, the complaint said.

He is in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years and/or a $10,000 fine.

Scheels theft charged

A 35-year-old Onamia, Minn. man has been charged with one count of felony theft of over $1,000 in a Dec. 18 incident at Scheels in the Eden Prairie Center.

Charles James Allen was observed by a Scheels loss prevention employee putting merchandise in a shopping cart that he abandoned in the store entrance before leaving, the police complaint said.

About a minute later, the suspect returned and left the building with the cart full of merchandise, the complaint said. The Scheels employee chased the suspect and he abandoned the cart. Arriving officers apprehended Allen.

The merchandise was valued at more than $2,800. Allen was released with a summons to appear in Hennepin County District Court.

If convicted, Allen faces a maximum sentence of five years and/or a $10,000 fine.