Executive Summary
- A St. Cloud man faces felony robbery charges for a July 2024 incident at a Speedway gas station.
- Investigators linked the suspect to the crime scene via a DNA match on a pair of abandoned sunglasses.
- Police recovered a stolen handgun, cash, and clothing associated with the robbery near the scene.
- The suspect posted $30,000 bail and is scheduled for a court hearing on February 24.
A 35-year-old St. Cloud man has been charged with first-degree aggravated robbery in connection with a July 2024 hold-up at a Speedway gas station, following a DNA match obtained from a pair of sunglasses recovered near the scene. According to a criminal complaint filed on Friday in Stearns County District Court, the suspect allegedly brandished a weapon and demanded cash during the incident.
The robbery occurred on July 27, 2024, at the Speedway located at 2510 Second St. S. The criminal complaint states that the assailant instructed the cashier to place money into a drawstring backpack while displaying what appeared to be a firearm. St. Cloud police officers responding to the scene reported that the suspect fled southwest from the store.
Investigators subsequently located a backpack nearby containing $219 in cash, yellow work gloves, a pistol, and sunglasses. According to law enforcement records, the firearm had been reported stolen in Grandview, Missouri, on March 30, 2024. Security footage collected by police allegedly placed the suspect at a nearby apartment building, where clothes matching the robber’s description were found two days later.
Evidence collected from the scene was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for forensic analysis. The complaint notes that while a mixture of DNA from two individuals was found on the gun and a glove, the DNA profile obtained from the sunglasses presented a single match pointing to the defendant. The accused also faces a felony charge for possessing a weapon with a prior violent conviction, stemming from a 2023 threats of violence conviction in Wright County.
According to court filings, the defendant posted a non-cash bail of $30,000 on Monday. Release conditions stipulate that he must remain within the state, avoid possession of firearms, and maintain contact with probation. His next court hearing is scheduled for February 24.
Forensic & Legal Ramifications
This case highlights the pivotal role of forensic DNA analysis in closing investigative gaps, particularly in cases where suspect identification is not immediate. The timeline—charges filed over a year after the initial incident—reflects the procedural realities and backlog often associated with state-level forensic testing. Furthermore, the recovery of a firearm stolen from Missouri underscores the persistent challenge law enforcement faces regarding the interstate tracking of stolen weapons used in violent crimes. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
