A 21-year-old self-described “urban explorer” has been sentenced to two years of probation for breaking into a West St. Paul underground water holding tank in 2024, later telling police after his arrest that he and his friends make fishing videos in obscure places.

The break-in on Nov. 19, 2024, led to drone and helicopter perimeter searches for suspects by seven area police agencies, who tracked down Zachary Daniel Laiho and a 16-year-old boy.

St. Paul Regional Water Services separated the reservoir from the rest of the distribution system as a precaution against possible contamination. The reservoir holds and supplies approximately 5 million gallons of drinking water for nearby residents.

Lab tests by the state Health Department came back negative for drinking water quality concerns, and the reservoir was placed back into service the following day.

Laiho, of St. Paul, and the teen, of Columbia Heights, were charged in Dakota County District Court with felony aiding and abetting first-degree criminal damage to property, gross misdemeanor trespassing on critical public service facilities and misdemeanor fleeing a police officer.

Under a plea deal Laiho reached with the prosecution last month, the property damage charge was reduced to a gross misdemeanor and the other two charges were dismissed at sentencing. He received a 364-day jail sentence, which was stayed for two years, during which time he’ll be on probation. He was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and to pay an undetermined amount of restitution.

Damaged lock

According to the criminal complaint, West St. Paul police officers responded to a disturbance call at the fenced-in reservoir along Imperial Drive, west of South Robert Street, just before 10 p.m. Dispatch advised that three or four people were seen on top of the reservoir.

An officer saw what appeared to be a person’s head pop up on top of the reservoir before disappearing below the hill. Several people ran off the top of the reservoir, climbed the fence and ran to a nearby residential neighborhood.

Officers saw the hatch to the underground reservoir had a damaged lock and was open. A crowbar, headlamp and backpack were left behind.

Laiho was located in the back yard of a nearby home, while the 16-year-old was found hiding behind a house about a half-mile away.

Laiho, in an interview at the police station, said he and his friends make fishing videos and that they heard there were fish in the reservoir and wanted to see for themselves. He said that his friends damaged the lock, and refused to identify them.

The cost of labor to St. Paul Regional Water Services was $2,468, while the health department’s costs totaled $848.68, according to the complaint.

‘Urban exploring’

Laiho had a pending felony case at the time.

Four months earlier, Laiho was charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree criminal damage to property after allegedly breaking into a Blaine home with others in May. According to the criminal complaint, Laiho admitted to going into the home, telling police they “partake in ‘urban exploring’ by exploring abandoned buildings.”

Laiho pleaded guilty to the burglary charge in March 2025 and entered into a diversion program, which is offered to first-time offenders. He completed the ordered 40 hours of community service and met all conditions during a year of probation, resulting in the charge being dismissed.