MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) -
Minneapolis police need your help identifying a man wanted in connection with a series of five taxi cab robberies this month.
Here are the dates, locations and descriptions of the robberies:
Oct. 6, 1:15 a.m.
In this case the suspect was picked up at Lake Street and Chicago Avenue and drove to the 1400 block of 11th Avenue North. The suspect pulled out a gun, hit the victim with the gun and fired two rounds before fleeing with the victim's property. Red and White Taxi, case number 12-315361.
Oct. 7, 10:45 p.m.
The suspect flagged down a cab at 10th Street and Hennepin Avenue South. The suspect told the driver to take him to 39th Street and Bloomington Avenue South. When they arrived, the suspect beat the victim with a gun and fled from the cab with the loss. Rainbow Taxi, case number 12-317107.
Oct. 8 at 12:40 a.m.
The suspect was picked at 7th Street and Nicollet Mall. The suspect asked the driver to take him to 34th and Penn Avenues North. When they arrived the suspect held a handgun to the back of the victim's head and told the victim this is a robbery. The suspect demanded his property before fleeing the scene. Arrow Taxi, case number 12-317178.
Oct. 10, 11:55 p.m.
The suspect jumped in a cab near 6th Street and Hennepin Avenue. The suspect asked to be taken to 11th and Humboldt Avenues North. When they arrived the suspect displayed a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded various items from the victim before fleeing the scene. Rainbow Taxi, case number 12-320301.
Oct. 14, 12:17 a.m.
In this incident the suspect hailed a cab in front of 601 1st Avenue North. En route to their destination, the suspect produced a gun and demanded his property. The suspect told the driver to take him to a cash machine then to the Holiday Gas Station at 601 5th Street North. Once at the gas station, the victim walked into the business and the suspect drove away in the cab. Minneapolis Cab Company, case number 12-323705.
Police have released three photos of the suspect. In all cases, the suspect was armed with a handgun. During a couple of the robberies, the suspect was wearing a black hat or combination black and red hat with a black winter jacket, black pants and carrying a backpack.
If you have any information about these cases please contact Sgt. Wallace Carlson of the Minneapolis Police Department Robbery Unit at 612-673-3856.
Crime Stoppers of Minnesota is offering a reward of up to $1000 for information. To provide information to Crime Stoppers regarding this incident, or any other serious crime, call 1-800-222-8477(TIPS), text TIP674 plus your information to 274637(CRIMES) or go to the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppersmn.org and click on "Give a Tip". All callers are given a unique identifier and no names are used.
