HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 01-04 Maplewood senior housing resident bound, choked PIONEER PRESS1/7/2016 Maplewood senior housing resident bound, choked in home invasion - TwinCities.com
Maplewood senior housing resident
bound, choked in home invasion
By Sarah Horner
shomer@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 01/04/2016 12:01 :00 AM CST I UPDATED: A DAY AGO
A 75 -year-old woman was reportedly bound
and strangled unconscious during an armed
home -invasion in Maplewood this weekend.
The attack took place about 1 p.m. Saturday
at a unit in a senior housing community on
the 170o block of Gervais Avenue, according
to Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell.
The woman had reportedly just walked back
into her home to retrieve something before
leaving for the afternoon when her doorbell
rang.
When she answered it, she encountered a
woman who asked to use her phone, police said.
10TIT3- r.
Since she was on her way out, the resident declined, leading the other woman to pull out a gun and force
her way inside.
At that point, police say the intruder made a call on a cellphone. Shortly after, two men showed up at the
residence. One of them reportedly bound the resident's hands while the other two started looting her place,
stealing jewelry, credit cards, keys and the woman's driver's license.
When they were through, one of the men forced the resident on to the floor before wrapping an article of
clothing around her neck and strangling her to the point of unconsciousness, Schnell said.
When she woke up, the three were gone and she went to a neighbor's home to call police.
"They gave every appearance that they left her for dead," Schnell said. "She is incredibly shaken by the
whole thing."
The woman was treated at a hospital for a cut near her eye and released.
The suspects remain at large.
Adveiiliseii,neiiit They are described as the following:
-- An African-American woman between 20 and 30 years
1/7/2016 Maplewood senior housing resident bound, choked in home invasion - TwinCities.com
old with a thin build. The woman is between 5 feet 2 and
5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs between 12o and 140
pounds. She was wearing tight, colorful pants, a jacket
and a winter hat at the time of the burglary. She had a
black handgun.
-- An African-American man between 20 and 30 years
old with a thin build. He is about 6 feet tall with
dreadlocks tied in a ponytail. He was wearing dark -
colored clothing.
-- An African-American man between 20 and 30 years
old with a heavier build. He is between 5 feet 6 inches
and 6 feet tall and has shorter hair. He was wearing
dark -colored clothing.
Police believe the attack may be connected to an earlier burglary that took place at the same senior facility
Dec. 27, Schnell said. Nobody was home during that robbery.
Credit cards taken from both residences have since been used at the same local businesses. Police are
circulating images of men suspected of using credit cards taken during the incidents.
Police planned to meet with residents at the senior home Tuesday to talk about what happened.
"This is a senior housing area so that area is generally super quiet," Schnell said. "To have somebody who is
willing to go to this extreme... gives reason for people to be very cautious.... That's why we want to get these
people identified and into custody."
Anyone with information about the alleged incidents or the suspects is asked to call 651-767-o640 or 911.
Anonymous tips can also be sent by texting the word "Maplewood" along with the information to TIP411.
Sarah Horner can be reached at 651-228-5539• Follow her at twitter.com/hornsarah.
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