A Minnesota woman’s booking photo is blowing up online, and it has nothing to do with the crime she’s accused of. Cyrena Anne Quast, 35, of Monticello, was arrested Aug. 30 and charged with gross misdemeanor theft after allegedly stealing two double packs of power tool batteries worth about $580. A store employee recognized her from an alleged theft two days earlier and called police, and Quast reportedly admitted to taking the batteries before being released the next day.
Then the Wright County Sheriff’s Office mugshot hit social media, and the comments exploded. People said she bears a striking resemblance to Jennifer Lopez, and the jokes poured in, from song lyric references to playful nicknames. The lookalike chatter quickly overshadowed the theft allegation itself, turning a local case into a national viral moment.
But online records add context the memes leave out: prior arrests for drug possession, DWI, fleeing police and false identification. So while the internet enjoys the double take, the real story is a repeat-offender record and a case still moving through the system. Does viral fame change how we cover stories like this? Drop your take in the comments below.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.