Suspect in July Eden Prairie Walmart robbery arrested and charged

A 29-year-old Litchfield man has been arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated robbery in connection with the July 27 incident at the Eden Prairie Walmart. Additionally, he faces charges of simple robbery for an Aug. 10 incident in Maple Grove.

Nicolas Stephen Daczyk-Hansen was arrested following a multi-agency investigation that tracked him to his Litchfield home after receiving information that identified him as the robbery suspect. The complaint did not say how police obtained that information.

According to the complaint:

On July 17, police were called to Walmart on Singletree Lane after a man wearing an American flag face mask was observed standing next to a Money Service desk for about an hour on a phone call before entering the service area and handing a Walmart employee at the desk a note stating, “This is a robbery calmly hand me the money I have a gun.” She handed the suspect approximately $2,905 in cash.

The witness further identified the man as wearing a black baseball cap, khaki pants and tennis shoes. Surveillance video confirmed the suspect was wearing a plaid shirt and the clothing and mask identified by the witness.

Based on the information received, police identified Daczyk-Hansen, noting similarities between a known photo of him and surveillance video.

On July 29, Eden Prairie officers were advised of an attempted robbery at a Shakopee Walmart store. Surveillance video of that incident showed the suspect wearing similar clothing, a face mask, and a black baseball cap.

On Aug. 1, officers conducted surveillance of Daczyk-Hansen’s residence in Litchfield, where they observed a green Ford Fusion with Minnesota license plates registered to the defendant.

On Aug. 10, officers were advised of a robbery at a business in Maple Grove. The suspect was wearing the same type of clothing and mask as in the Eden Prairie and Shakopee incidents. He approached an employee who complied when told to put about $1,000 from the register in a bag. Witnesses reported that the suspect left in a green Ford Fusion.

On Aug. 21, Eden Prairie officers made contact with Daczyk-Hansen outside of the Eden Prairie Target store after receiving a shoplifting report. Daczyk-Hansen admitted owning a green Ford Fusion. Officers also observed that he had a similar build and features of the Walmart robbery suspect. He was also wearing the same cap observed in surveillance video.

On Sept. 7, officers executed a search warrant at Daczyk-Hansen’s residence. There, they found two Minnesota license plates that appeared to be on the Ford Fusion at the Maple Grove robbery, several plaid shirts matching those worn at the Eden Prairie and Maple Grove robberies, the baseball cap worn in the Eden Prairie robbery, an American flag bandana similar to the one used in the Eden Prairie robbery, a blue face mask similar to one used in the Shakopee robbery attempt, and a handwritten note related to planning a robbery.

Officers also found a pistol, a ballistic vest, and shoes similar to those worn by the robbery suspect in his vehicle

Daczyk-Hansen was arrested and held on $75,000 bail. If convicted of both felony counts, he could face a maximum sentence of 15 years and/or a $30,000 fine for the first count and up to 10 years and/or a $20,000 fine for the second count.