A Shakopee man charged Thursday in connection with a home burglary in Minnetonka also is suspected of committing several other suburban burglaries over the past year, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Thursday.

David William Pollard, 45, was charged with one count of second-degree burglary and possession of a firearm by a felon. Prosecutors are seeking bail of $500,000. He will make his first appearance in Hennepin County District Court on Friday.

In June, Minnetonka and several other suburban police departments realized they were investigating 26 similar residential burglaries in which more than $300,000 in property had been taken, in addition to 21 guns.

Police suspected that a Chrysler Cordoba was related to the crimes, but did not have a true name or address to go with it.

Early this week, Minnetonka police received a call of a burglary in progress. Officers surrounded the house, and when a man backed a Cordoba out of the garage, they tried to block him, the complaint states.

Instead, he sped off, driving on lawns, with the officers in pursuit. He eventually jumped out of the car but was caught. When the car was searched, a handgun, silverware and other valuables, all from the burglarized house, were found inside, the complaint says.

STAFF REPORT