Rochester Police Arrest Man For Tire Slashing and Armed Robbery

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Rochester police are reporting the arrest of an apparently homeless man who is accused of robbing a man at knifepoint slashing the tires on a woman's car Sunday afternoon.

One incident occurred in the Civic Center Parking Ramp near the Rochester Public Library. A 29-year-old Zumbrota woman told police a man approached her vehicle and slashed her tires while she was giving a ride to a homeless person. The man also pounded on a window of the vehicle. The woman informed the responding officers that she had a previous relationship with the tire slasher and had taken out a protection order against him.

The victim of the robbery also knew his attacker. The 30-year-old man told police he was walking near Calvary Episcopal Church about a block from the Mayo Clinic when he was robbed of his cell phone and bank cards while being threatening with a knife.

Both individuals identified the man as 34-year-old Philip Kuch. He was apprehended Sunday night after he was found sleeping in a parking ramp stairwell and is being held on charges that include aggravated robbery and felony assault.

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