Man Charged After Homeowner Takes Out Trash, Car Allegedly Stolen Minutes Later
Hennepin County Jail Booking Photo
Published: September 29th, 2026.
MINNEAPOLIS MN — A Minneapolis homeowner had stepped outside to take out the trash and left his rear door unlocked before discovering about five minutes later that a garage door opener was missing and his son's Honda had been stolen, according to a Hennepin County criminal complaint.
Prosecutors allege Larry Dean Nerison III entered the property without permission while residents were home and used the stolen garage door opener to access the detached garage. About three hours later, police allegedly found Nerison passed out behind the wheel of the stolen Honda with an operable handgun on his lap.
Nerison is charged with first-degree burglary of an occupied dwelling and motor vehicle theft, both felonies, along with gross misdemeanor possession of a pistol without a permit.
According to the complaint, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 26, the homeowner took his trash to the curb and returned through the rear door, which he did not lock.
About five minutes later, he allegedly noticed several items near the rear door, an open gate and that the garage door opener normally kept near the rear entrance was missing. He then discovered his son's Honda was gone from the garage.
The complaint states both the homeowner and his son were at the residence when the garage door opener and vehicle were allegedly taken.
Approximately three hours later, Minneapolis police responded to another location on a report of a person passed out behind the steering wheel of a vehicle in an alley.
Officers allegedly found Nerison behind the wheel of the stolen Honda. According to the complaint, Nerison was wearing clothing belonging to one of the residents and had an operable black handgun on his lap. Prosecutors allege he did not have a valid permit to carry the handgun.
Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage from the residence and identified Nerison as the person who had been on the property approximately three hours earlier, according to the complaint. The homeowners reportedly told investigators they did not know Nerison and had not given him permission to be on the property.
The complaint alleges the detached garage's service door had been locked and that the garage could only be accessed through the main garage door using the opener that had been taken.
Nerison was in custody at the time the complaint was filed.
The first-degree burglary charge carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a $35,000 fine. The motor vehicle theft charge carries a maximum possible sentence of five years and/or a $10,000 fine. The sentences listed in the complaint are statutory maximums and do not necessarily reflect the sentence that would be imposed if Nerison is convicted.
The allegations contained in the criminal complaint are accusations. Nerison is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.