A St. Paul man posed as a valet driver outside Regions Hospital earlier this month and stole a woman’s car, authorities say.
The 42-year-old woman had just pulled into the hospital’s drive-up entrance Jan. 4 when Cumpasu Charging Thunder approached her vehicle and, claiming he was a valet, asked for the keys to her Jeep, court documents say.
After her male companion handed them over, Charging Thunder reportedly told her a valet ticket would be placed inside the vehicle, and the couple walked inside the hospital.
When they asked a security guard about obtaining a ticket to reclaim their car, they were told no valets were working at the hospital that night. At that point, Charging Thunder had fled in her vehicle, according to a criminal complaint filed against him Thursday in Ramsey County District Court.
The 32-year-old has been charged with theft by swindle, vehicle theft and driving while impaired.
Regions security told police Charging Thunder had just been released from the hospital and provided surveillance footage showing staff escorting him out of the building before he approached a Jeep stopped outside and drove off in it, the complaint said.
He was arrested four days later when officers spotted the stolen vehicle near Maryland and Payne avenues in St. Paul and pulled over the driver.
Charging Thunder, who was with a companion at the time, told police the vehicle belonged to a friend but wasn’t able to provide the friend’s name, court documents say.
Officers could smell marijuana on him and noticed that he “spoke rapidly, was jumpy … and had trouble staying on topic,” the complaint said.
Charging Thunder reportedly said he’d used methamphetamine a week prior when police found two drug-smoking pipes on him.
After being shown the footage from Regions, he admitted to stealing the woman’s Jeep days prior, saying he did so because he needed a ride, according to court documents.
He added that the owner who handed over her keys was “wonderful,” the complaint said.
His criminal record includes past convictions for driving while intoxicated, domestic assault, motor-vehicle theft and criminal damage to property. He has no felonies on his record.
Charging Thunder is expected to make his next court appearance on the charges Jan. 22. The public defender appointed to his case could not be immediately reached for comment.