HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 02-24 Twice in east metro, gunman confronts women in cars, threatens rape STAR TRIBUNE x StarTribune
Twice in east metro,gunman
confronts women in cars,threatens rape
Article by:Paul Walsh
Star Tribune
February 24,2014-10:36 AM
Twice in locations not far apart in the Twin Cities and in rapid succession,the same gunman
is suspected of getting into women's cars at night,wearing surgical gloves and threatening to
rape the women,authorities said Monday.
The man did not physically harm the women in the incidents roughly 15 minutes apart Sunday
night in Maplewood and North St.Paul,and he remains on the loose,police said.
"The actions of this armed suspect are obviously dangerous,making his identification and
arrest a top priority;said Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell.
According to Maplewood and North St Paul police:
Shortly after 7:45 p.m.Sunday,a female starting her vehide in the parking lot of North High
School Polar Arena after a hockey game was confronted by an armed man who got in on the
passenger side next to her.
He told the female"he wanted to have sex with her and to drive the vehicle out of the parking
lot,"police said in a statement.
The man forced her to drive to a parking lot west of North High School and tum off the vehicle
off.The suspect grabbed the victim,prompting her to flee and scream for help.The man
drove off in her car.
Soon after and about 4 miles to the southeast,a woman in Maplewood told police officers that
she left LA Fitness near White Bear Avenue and County Road D about 8 p.m.,when a man
wearing a black ski mask got into her car next to her and threatened to shoot her if she tried
to flee.
The man ordered the woman to driver to various spots in Maplewood.As they arrived at each
location,the man"appeared to get nervous about being seen"and ordered her to drive
elsewhere.
During the kidnapping,the man told the woman he intended to rape her.
As the woman talked with the man,he had her drive to County Road C and White Bear
Avenue,where he got out of the car and has not been spotted since.
Authorities also have not located the car from the North St.Paul incident,described as a gray
2007 Hyundai Sonata,Minnesota license plate 557CTT.
Maplewood and North St.Paul police are working on these cases together.Anyone with
information about either incident is urged to call 911 or Maplewood police at 651-767-0640.
Paul Walsh•612-673-4482