Alert reader nabs suspect

On 3/18/05, at 7:10 a.m., a Hennepin County employee was walking from her home to a bus stop at 46th St. and Clinton Av. S. when she was attacked from behind by a male who demanded her purse. The victim struggled with her attacker. The attacker brandished a large kitchen knife and began stabbing at the victim, inflicting several puncture wounds to her left hand and arm. The attacker took the victim’s purse and fled.

The Minneapolis Police Robbery Unit was able to get a very detailed description of the attacker. A police artist worked with the victim and came up with a composite sketch. This sketch was distributed throughout the area. The composite was also printed in the Southside Pride.

A resident of the area who reads the Southside Pride recognized the composite sketch and alerted police. The Robbery Unit was able to identify the attacker as a student at Washburn High School. Working with the school liaison officer, the student was arrested on April 22, 2005. He was charged as a juvenile by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office with one count each of aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and weapons.

The Minneapolis Police Department would like to thank the public and the Southside Pride newspaper for their assistance in finding this suspect.
For further information, contact Lt. Michael Fossum, MPD Robbery Unit, at 673-3645.