Police: 4 In Custody Following Rape, Robbery In St. Paul
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Police in St. Paul are investigating a rape and robbery that occurred near Raspberry Island Tuesday morning.
Police say the call came in at around 2 a.m. When they arrived at the scene, officers found two young men and two adult women who said they were in a park on the island when four men approached them. One of the men, they said, had a gun and demanded the victims get on the ground and hand over their valuables.
After that, the victims told officers the two women were taken to a nearby car and sexually assaulted by at least one of the suspects. After that, the suspects ran off.
The views, the peace, and the quiet are what draw people like Llogan Salokar and Danielle Rasmussen to Raspberry Island.
"Just another little spot to go have lunch," said Salokar.
"It's a convenient place, I mean it's easy to just come here," added Rasmussen.
That's why they couldn't believe that just a short walk away from the Island in a parking lot police say a heinous crime was committed.
"It's definitely disconcerning," said Salokar.
"It makes me kind of uncomfortable, like maybe it's not so safe after all," said Rasmussen.
Not too far from the island in West St. Paul, police arrested three people after another robbery. Police said they fit the description given by people in the area of the Raspberry Island attackers, information police say was crucial to the investigation. A fourth person was arrested around noon.
"This is a disgusting crime and we as a police department will do everything we can make sure that these suspects are held accountable," said Sgt. Mike Ernster of the St. Paul Police.
It's an outcome Salokar and Rasmussen were thankful to hear, but the peace they find on the island is now joined with caution.
"Defintely a lot more aware of everything of our surroundings," said Salokar.
The suspects arrested are 19-year-old Devontre Jordan Vann, 20-year-old Vershone Jaquay Hodges, 18-year-old Deandray Artez Easley, and a 16-year-old male. Police say one of the victims recognized one of the suspects during the attack.
