How Investigators Linked Suspects To A Rochester Armed Robbery

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A second 18-year-old has been charged in connection with an armed robbery that happened earlier this year at a Rochester apartment complex.

That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Wednesday. Rochester police responded to the report of the robbery shortly after 8 p.m. on May 1.

New Suspect Charged in May 1 Armed Robbery at Northern Heights Apartments

The alleged robbery occurred at the Northern Heights Apartments, located in the 2200 block of 26th Street NE. The victim told police he was robbed of shoes and shorts that he was selling on behalf of his brother, the complaint says.

The items were valued at $260, according to court documents. Two men, who the victim thought were customers, were accused of carrying out the robbery.

One of the alleged assailants walked past him and then "jumped on him from behind and grabbed him," holding his arms so he could not move, the complaint says.

The second man pulled out a gun, threatened the victim and directed him to turn over the shoes and shorts, the charges say.

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Investigators showed surveillance photos of the suspects and a vehicle they were associated with that were captured at the apartment complex to a "reliable source of information." The court document says the source identified a 16-year-old boy as one of the suspects.

Investigators obtained cell phone tracking data and learned the teenager's phone was within five meters of the robbery when it occurred.

A search warrant was later obtained for his residence, where police found the shorts stolen in the robbery.

The criminal complaint indicates investigators found videos on the juvenile's cell phone that led to the identification of 18-year-old Dontrell Deanthony Whiteside as a suspect in the case.

The court document says the video depicts Whiteside brandishing a handgun while wearing clothing that matched the clothing worn by the suspect who pointed a gun at the robbery victim.

Phone Data Helps ID Second 18-Year-Old Suspect

A review of the 16-year-old’s Instagram account data led to the discovery of a phone number belonging to 18-year-old Abdirahman Kasim Mohamed. The phone was in the vicinity of the apartment complex at the time of the robbery, the complaint says.

Mohamed was also wearing sandals and a jacket that match those worn by one of the robbery suspects. Investigators also found a text exchange between Mohamed and the 16-year-old discussing details of the robbery prior to it happening, the charges say.

Mohamed was arrested on Monday. The Rochester teen is charged with one count of aiding and abetting aggravated first-degree robbery and two counts of aiding and abetting second-degree assault.

Mohamed’s conditional bail was set at $10,000 following his first court appearance on Wednesday. He’s due back in court later this month.