Arrest Warrant Issued for Former Owner of Gear Doctors

An arrest warrant has been issued for the former owner of Gear Doctors in connection with a slew of missing sports equipment brought to the Deephaven store for sale or repair.

A criminal complaint filed Monday, and signed by Sgt. Chris Whiteside of the Deephaven Police Department, against Michael Metzler, 37, indicates the investigation into Gear Doctors began last fall.

In all, more than $30,000 worth of property was reported stolen by dozens of customers throughout the Minneapolis and Lake Minnetonka area. One of the customers was the Minnetonka Police Department.

The business, located on Hwy. 101 across from Bennett Family Park, was unexpectedly closed late last summer—according to customers—and the phones turned off. Investigating officers visited the building and found a note on the door indicating the business was moving and providing a phone number and an e-mail address.

The building’s owner told police he, too, was looking for Metzler and that both back rent payments and utility bills were left unpaid.

Police tracked down a former employee of Gear Doctors, who in interviews with officers said he helped Metzler move inventory from Gear Doctors to a location in St. Paul last July. The items were moved at night, and the former employee said he had not spoken to his former boss since paychecks issued to employees in August all bounced. The employee went on to say he suspected some of the equipment that was reported missing was being listed for sale on Craigslist.

Two locations in St. Paul either owned or being rented by Metzler were pinpointed, and—according to the criminal complaint—at least one bicycle reported missing by a local resident was observed through a window. A search warrant was subsequently served on the building, and numerous items reported stolen were located.

A second search warrant served last October also recovered a “large number of items which had been reported stolen,” according to the complaint.

Deephaven police received more than 40 reports of missing/stolen equipment from customers throughout the Minneapolis and Lake Minnetonka area during the course of their investigation. Just over $8,600 of the reported $36,000 worth of equipment has been recovered to date.

Metzler’s whereabouts are unknown, and police are actively seeking information as to his location. Anyone with knowledge related to the investigation is asked to contact the Deephaven Police Department at 952-474-7555.

Metzler faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted and given the maximum sentence for the felony-level theft charge for which the arrest warrant has been issued.

Are you missing sports equipment brought to Gear Doctors? What were some of your thoughts about business you conducted at the store? Tell us in the comments section below.