Blotter: Victim's Robbery Story Raises Investigator's Suspicions

Every week, Patch will publish a selection of Inver Grove Heights police reports taken from previous weeks.

March 11

1pm — Police responded to a terroristic threats call on the 2900 block of 80th Street E.

March 12

1:12am — Police responded to an assault and damage to property call on the 5300 block of Audobon Avenue.

March 13

10:13pm — Police responded to reports of a vehicle on fire at the corner of Cuneen and Cahill Avenues. The vehicle was fully engulfed when police arrived. The only occupant of the vehicle escaped without injury. The driver told police that he pulled over after the front left tire of the rental car went flat, and stepped out of the car to find the engine on fire. By tracking scarring in the pavement from the tire rim, police discovered the driver had been driving on the flat since the intersection of Cahill Avenue and Interstate 494.

March 15

3:15pm — Police responded to reports of a burglary on the 5300 block of Greystone Drive. The victim reported that an unknown person broke into two cars parked in an unlocked garage and stole a wallet, speaker, stereo and textbook.

8:21pm — Police responded to forgery/fraud call on the 7800 block of Dickson Avenue.

10pm — Police responded to Regions Hospital on an aggravated robbery call. The victim, who had scrapes on his face and a swollen jaw, told an officer that a group of men attacked him while he was walking south on Craig Avenue near Bridgewood Apartments. The man told officers he took the bus to get food prior to the alleged assault, but realized he had no money when he got off the bus. Cracks in the victim's story began to show when a person accompanying the victim told police the victim had $96 on him at the time of the assault. The victim acknowledged that he had money on him at the time of the assault, but wouldn't explain the inconsistency in his story to police. After an officer pressed him, the victim became "deceptive" and refused to cooperate further, police said.

March 16

6pm — Police responded to reports of a burglary and theft on the 1400 block of Upper 55th Street.

March 17

4:42am — Police responded to reports that a man was assaulted on the 3100 block of 65th Street E. The victim, who appeared to be intoxicated, told officers another acquaintance choked him and hit him. In subsequent interviews, the alleged assailant denied choking the victim and said the man was yelling racial slurs and fell down while drunk. No charges were filed.

4:25pm — Police responded to a disorderly conduct call on 80th Street E.

March 18

2:13am — Police responded to a disorderly conduct call on the 6400 block of Concord Boulevard. Witnesses at a bar reported that a 26-year-old Inver Grove Heights man spat on a victim twice and punched him in the chest, then threatened to shoot several people at the bar. Police cited the man for misdemeanor disorderly conduct.