18 People Charged in 2 Violent Robberies in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Eighteen people are charged with various counts in connection with two violent robberies in downtown Minneapolis.

The defendants range from 15 to 27 years old. One man is charged in both attacks.
In the first robbery, surveillance video shows about a dozen people beat and kick a man on Aug. 3 outside Target Field. They stomped on him and ran over him with a bicycle.

The second incident happened Aug. 17 after a man left a downtown bar. He told police he was using his phone when he was surrounded by people who tried to take his wallet.

He was kicked and punched until he was unconscious and later diagnosed with a concussion.

Police say these defendants were a factor behind an uptick in downtown robberies.

Robberies have dropped significantly since their arrests.