Rochester Police Investigating Two Violent Robbery Incidents

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Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) -  Rochester police are investigating two violent robbery-related incidents reported over the weekend.

The first happened just after midnight Saturday. A 24-year-old man was riding his bicycle home when an SUV drove right at him in the 2300 block of 19th St NW and then stopped. The victim - who is black - said a white man got out and began yelling racial slurs at him. The victim said the man then began hitting him in the stomach and leg with a crowbar. The man took the victim’s wallet, phone - and his bike - and left in the SUV, which was driven by another person. The victim described the attacker as white in his mid-30s, 5-11, and 180 pounds. The SUV was a dark older model.

The other incident happened Sunday in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 1900 block of 17th St SE. Two men in their late 50s were out having a smoke around 7:30 pm when a man walked up, pulled out a gun, and demanded their wallets. When the men realized the weapon was a BB gun they refused. The man then hit both men over the head with the gun, threatened to shoot one of them, and ran off. The two men were treated at the scene for their injuries. They described the would-be robber as Somali, 6 feet tall and with a slim build. He was wearing a face mask.

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