Details of last week’s robbery of Premier Bank in downtown Northfield are highlighted in the criminal complaint filed in Rice County District Court on Friday. Just before noon last Tuesday two men, armed with pistols, entered the bank, one waving his gun and telling everyone to “get on the floor”. There were 3 employees and a customer inside. An employee was starting to lay on the floor when she was told to get behind the teller line, keep her face down and not look at him. She was then instructed to get hundreds and not get any “funny money”. One of the men attempted to restrain the customer with a zip tie. The employee said the thin robber held a gun on her and told her to put the money in a backpack. The two men went out the back door with
an undisclosed amount of cash in the backpack. Officers retrieved surveillance video from a number of local businesses and identified a Black four door Pontiac Grand Prix in the area at the time. The vehicle was seen in the area at approximately 11:33, and again at about 11:53. Through traffic cameras, the State Patrol were able to follow the vehicle to 494 and Portland. Based information from other agencies and a previous robbery, NPD investigators served search warrants at 2 Bloomington apartments. They located over $800 in cash, multiple guns with ammunition, a backpack containing zip ties, electronic devices, keys for the Pontiac Grand Prix, and clothing consistent with the video of the robbers and descriptions provided by the bank employees. One suspect, 33 year old DeAndre Dontal McGowan, is being held on charges of 1st degree Aggravated Robbery and multiple charges of 2nd degree Assault with a dangerous weapon. Bail has been set at $1 million without conditions and $500,000 with conditions. His next court appearance is February 1st.
Veterans Court aims to help with their unique needs
Returning military personnel can go through a lot of emotional and troubling times as they come back from overseas. Sometimes that results in a brush with the law. Rice County, along with 10 other Counties in our Judicial District, is rolling out a new way to handle cases involving vets. Rice County attorney John Fossum explains Veterans Court saying it’s to, “bring in the veterans who can benefit from treatment, from coaching from other veterans. Getting the assistance and seeking the benefits they’re entitled to as veterans which is something they may have been missing out on”. Fossum says there are currently 31 vets on probation in Rice County, and this court would allow them to get the services they need, and access to benefits they may not realize are out there. He added, “they have a lot of additional issues that may not go well in our regular drug court or regular treatment court and so having that support of veterans, having that access to VA programs and other assistance”. It’s also a chance for Counties to be proactive in rehabbing these men and women. Fossum said, “hopefully we can get them at the beginning of any issues so that they don’t turn in to repeat customers in the court system”. The new Veteran’s Court will slowly be rolled out in February with Steele County holding the first cases.
Northfield celebrates MLK Day with song, dance and testimony
The Northfield Human Rights Commission is holding their annual Martin Luther King celebration tonight at Emmaus Church. The keynote speaker is Anthony Ba-Tays who will be speaking on moral and ethical theology. HRC member Corrine Smith said, there will also be 3 local acts performing, the Northfield Youth Choir, Black Student Union dancers and the newly formed Justice Choir. The HRC will also recognize the 50 year anniversary of the Northfield Community Action Center. Smith says there is also an open mic opportunity for those attending. Smith says this is an opportunity to tell stories, shares thoughts and more related to the message of Dr. King and it’s usually the “most powerful part of the program”. The celebration begins at 7 p.m. and there will be refreshments afterwards.
