Cops & Courts

A 49-year-old Minneapolis man the FBI thinks may be the Man in Black suspected of robbing the First National Bank of the Lakes in Richfield in November and several other financial institutions since then was arrested Tuesday near Saint Peter.

Mark Wetsch was arrestedby the Saint Peter Police Department after an officer saw him in a vehicle used earier in the day during a bank robbery in Brewster in southwestern Minnesota, according to the bureau.

The nickname Man in Black comes from clothing the robber has worn during the holdups. Several Minnesota law enforcement agencies, including the Richfield Police Department, have been working on the case.

Wetsch was charged Thursday with first-degree aggravated robbery, terroristic threats and theft, according to Nobles County Attorney Gordon Moore.

A man wearing a black mask robbed the Richfield branch of the First National Bank of the Lakes at gunpoint about 9:20 a.m. on Friday, escaping with an undisclosed amount of cash.

According to the FBI:

The man entered the bank at 6613 Penn Ave. and walked up to the teller counter where he displayed a handgun and demanded cash from two bank tellers.

"After receiving the cash, the robber fled from the bank on foot," according to a bureau news release. "Once outside the bank, the robber fled in a white sedan, driving southbound on Penn Avenue."

Witnesses describe the man as a white male possibly in his 30s, about 5-feet, 11-inches tall with a medium build. He was wearing a black mask, dark gloves, a black hooded sweatshirt and black jeans.

Authorities are asking for anyone with information about the robbery to contact the FBI at (612) 376-3200 or the Richfield Police Department at (612) 861-9800.

Broken windows - A Richfield woman told police that two windows in her apartment in the 7100 block of Elliot Avenue were shot with a pellet gun on Feb. 10. Damage was estimated at $200. About the same time, police received a similar report from a house about five blocks away on 14th Avenue, where about $300 damage was done with a pellet gun.
Microwave burglary- A Richfield man said an acquaintance came to his apartment in the 7600 block of Penn Avenue South just before 1 p.m. on Feb. 11, forced the door open and stole a microwave valued at $150.
Soda vandalism- Police were called to the 1300 block of 78th Street East at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11 where a woman said someone threw a soda can through her apartment window. After she hung up, the woman called back to report another window was broken by a flying pop can. Damage is estimated at $400. The woman's ex-boyfriend is a suspect in the case.
Car stolen - A Richfield woman reported her 1994 Honda Accord valued at $2,500 was stolen overnight Feb. 9 from a parking lot in the 700 block of 77th Street East.
Underage smoking - Four juveniles were found in possession of tobacco and smoking on the Richfield High School grounds Feb. 9. They were cited for underage use of tobacco, which carries a fine of $128, and released

Shoplifter arrested - A 45-year-old Eagan woman was arrested for shoplifting and possession of burglary tools after she attempted to steal more than $360 worth of shoes, perfume and other items the morning of Feb. 7 from Target, 6445 Richfield Parkway. The burglary tool was a pair of scissors.
Car stolen - A Richfield man told police this week that a homeless friend who borrowed his 2005 Chrysler Sebring on Jan. 16 still hadn't returned it. The car's estimated value is $5,000.
Domestic assault - A 38-year-old Minneapolis man was jailed for domestic assault after he hit his 41-year-old girlfriend in the face and threatened her just after 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 7. The incident happened in the woman's apartment in the 6300 block of Lyndale Avenue South. She did not require medical attention.
Peeping Tom- A 22-year-old Richfield man reported he saw a man peeking into his apartment windows in the 7100 block of Chicago Avenue South about 11:15 p.m. Feb. 8 while he and his girlfriend were watching TV. 
School burglary - Someone broke into a storage unit at Fraser School, 6328 Penn Ave. S., overnight Feb. 7 and broke lightbulbs, but apparently nothing was stolen.

 

More CVS vandalism - Vandals again struck the CVS Pharmacy being built at 66th in Penn, this time doing between $10,000 and $15,000 in damage overnight Feb. 2. Walls were covered with paint and caulk, a bathroom mirror was shattered and a water cooler was torn off a wall in the latest incident, the third in three weeks. The perpetrators again gained access through the building's roof, this time breaking off a lock on a hatch.
Family removed - Police escorted a 77-year-old man, his 24-year-old granddaughter and her 5-year-old son from a house in the 7400 block of Portland Avenue South the afternoon of Feb. 2 because of health conditions. Officers found the house cluttered and filthy, with no heat or sewer service and backed-up toilets.
Man arrested - A 21-year-old south Minneapolis man was arrested and jailed just before 2 a.m. Saturday after he broke two windows valued at $1,000 at American Pie, 6529 Nicollet Ave., by throwing rocks through them. The man had been thrown out of the restaurant earlier for causing trouble, according to a police report.
Van stolen- A 33-year-old Bloomington man reported his 1995 Honda Odyssey, valued at $1,000, stolen from a parking lot in the 7700 block of 12th Avenue South overnight Feb. 3.
Car, gas stolen - Thieves who stole a 2001 Buick Regal, valued at $1,000, from the Motel 6 lot in Richfield overnight Feb. 1 are suspected of driving off without paying for gasoline the next afternoon at the BP station, 6601 Penn Ave. S.

 

CVS vandalized again - For the second time in two weeks, someone broke into the CVS drug store under construction at 66th and Penn and caused hundreds of dollars in damage. Overnight Jan. 31, a vandal or vandals entered the building through a roof vent, then threw paint cans in the air to break ceiling tiles, spilled paint on a carpet and damaged a stairwell and shopping cart. Nothing appeared to be stolen, but damage was estimated at $1,500.   

Fraud foiled - A 35-year-old Richfield man almost lost $68,000 as he attempted to transfer money from one bank account to another the morning of Jan. 29. The man's bank stopped the transaction before it could take place. Police have a suspect in the case.
Employee caught - A 54-year-old Minneapolis woman was arrested just before midnight Jan. 31 at Target, 6445 Richfield Parkway, for stealing more than $450 worth of food and other items over several nights. The Target empoyee was cited for theft and released.
Shoplifter arrested- A 21-year-old Minneapolis woman was arrested by Target security people about 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 after she drove a cart full of clothing, DVDs and food out of the store without paying. The items were valued at $506.
Car stolen - An older Toyota Camry valued at $1,000 was stolen from a parking lot on 14th Avenue South sometime Jan. 31. 

Boy robbed - A 13-year-old Richfield boy told police a man who had a handgun tucked into his pants approached him outside Game Stop, 34 66th St. W., the evening of Jan. 28 and left with the teen's Xbox and two video games valued at $500.  
Mom assaulted - A 19-year-old Richfield woman was assaulted by the 18-year-old father of her child about 7 p.m. Jan. 26 in her home in the 6300 block of Lyndale Avenue. She told police the man slammed her head into a couch, choked her and punched her in the face, then left the apartment.
Purse snatched- A 26-year-old Eagan woman lost and then recovered her purse the night of Jan. 27 at Boston Market, 700 78th St. W. The woman and the restaurant manager found a female employee with the purse in a bathroom. The employee claimed she found the purse in a trash can. No charges were filed.
Domestic assault - An argument between a 46-year-old Richfield woman and her 49-year-old husband the night of Jan. 28 at their home in the 6300 block of Colfax Avenue turned physical when the man pushed and then knocked his wife backward. The woman told police she didn't want to file charges.

 

 

Heroin bust - Two Richfield men, 26 and 27, were jailed the morning of Jan. 24 after investigators found heroin packaged for sale in their apartment in the 7700 block of Penn Avenue. Officers also seized two handguns and ammunition, cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a scale after obtaining a search warrant.  
Library robbery - A 73-year-old Minneapolis man was shaken but not hurt after very tall teenager approached him while he sat in his car outside the Augusburg Park Library, 7100 Nicollet Ave., and robbed him of his Kindle tablet, valued at $100. The man told police the teen, who was about 6-foot-5 and had a beard, had approached him earlier in the afternoon Jan. 25 inside the library and asked him for money. 
Shoplifter arrested- A 63-year-old south Minneapolis woman was arrested and jailed Jan. 22 after security officers at Target, 6445 Richfield Parkway, caught her stealing more than $370 in beads, scrapbook supplies and other items.

 

 

CVS vandalized - Vandals did about $2,400 damage to the CVS drug store under construction at 66th and Penn overnight Jan. 17. Two ceiling lights were broken, walls were painted and tubes of caulk had been squirted onto some of the building's walls. Police have no suspects.
Woman raped - A 21-year-old Richfield woman was raped in her apartment in the 1000 block of 66th Street East the evening of Jan. 19 by a man with a knife. When police arrived, they discovered blood all over the apartment, apparently from the woman's attacker, who had fought with another man after the rape. The woman was treated at Hennepin County Medical Center. The man who fought with the rapist was arrested and jailed on an unrelated warrant.
Jewelry stolen- A couple who were moving out of a foreclosed house in the 6800 block of Vincent Avenue South on Jan. 20 reported that about $10,000 worth of diamond and jade jewelry, including a tennis bracelet, necklace, a watch and other items, were stolen during the move.
Husband arrested - A 31-year-old Richfield man was jailed the morning of Jan. 21 for domestic assault after he threw a knife at his wife during an argument over money. The woman, 29, was treated by paramedics for a cut on her back.
Copper stolen -  The real estate agent for a home owner who is renovating a house in the 6500 block of 16th Avenue South called police to report that $1,000 worth of copper pipe and a $200 humidifier were stolen from the site. The agent suspects one of the subcontractors.

 Dad jailed - A fight between the 20-year-old father and mother of a three-week-old baby the afternoon of Jan. 18 ended in the father's arrest for domestic assault. When an argument in their apartment in the 6300 block of Lyndale Avenue escalated, the man punched his girlfriend three times, according to police. She did not require medical attention. 
Bogus bill - Police have a surveillance photo of a customer who successfully passed a counterfeit $100 bill the evening of Jan. 18 at Oriental Direct, 607 77th St. E. No arrest has been made.
Burglar surprised- A 48-year-old Richfield homeowner confronted a would-be burglar in his garage the night of Jan. 18 and scared the man away. The thief dropped the man's tool belt and ran from the garage in the 300 block of 63rd Street West.
Officer assaulted -  An 18-year-old student at the South Education Center was arrested for criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct and assault after she damaged equipment at the school and refused to leave the building at 7450 Penn Ave. just before noon on Jan. 17. She scratched the arresting officer's eyes as he tried to take her out of the school. 

 

 

Bathroom burglar - Police are looking for a man who stole a laptop computer, rare coins and other items valued at more than $1,000 from a house in the 6300 block of Xerxes Avenue the morning of Jan. 15. The victim said the burglar was an acquaintance who opened a bathroom window during a visit, then returned later and used the open window to gain entry to the home.
Hit and run - A 47-year-old Minneapolis man was arrested after fleeing the scene of an accident about 5:20 p.m. Jan. 14 on 12th Avenue South near I-494. The man's Chevy truck rear-ended a car driven by a 33-year-old Richfield man, and when police arrived the Minneapolis man fled the scene. He was arrested for driving under the influence and hit-and-run driving.
Domestic assault- A 31-year-old Richfield man was arrested for fifth-degree domestic assault just after 3 a.m. Jan. 14 after poice were called to his apartment in the 1000 block of 78th Street East. The victim was 23-year-old woman.
Door damaged -  Police responding to a domestic assault report at an apartment in the 900 block of Rae Drive the evening of Jan. 12 later cited a 29-year-old Richfield man for damaging a door in the apartment.

Teen robbed - A 17-year-old Bloomington boy was assaulted and robbed of his backpack and $550 laptop computer just after midnight Jan. 10 near 76th and Elliot in Richfield. The boy told police he was walking with two other teens when one of them hit him with a bicycle he'd been riding and then punched him in the jaw with his fist. The victim didn't require medical attention.
Car stolen- Police are looking for a 1995 green, four-door Honda Civic stolen overnight Jan. 8 from a driveway in the 6200 block of 13th Avenue South. Police have no witnesses or suspects.
House burglarized- A burglar forced open the front door of a house in the 7500 block of Stevens Avenue South sometime during the day Jan. 9 and stole at 55-inch Sony TV valued at $1,000.
Joy ride? -  A Richfield woman called police the afternoon of Jan. 10 to report that her 2000 Dodge minivan had been stolen, but when officers arrived at her home in the 6700 block of Vincent Avenue South, a state trooper was already there to tell her the vehicle had been recovered, abandoned, at 66th Street and I-35W.

 
Identity theft - A 32-year-old Richfield man reported losing $4,400 to an indentity thief who withdrew the money from the man's Direct Express prepaid debit card account. He reported the theft Jan 5.
Man arrested - A 46-year-old Richfield man was arrested and jailed for violating a protection order and fleeing police just after midnight Jan. 6 in the first block of 77th Street West. He and a 40-year-old woman were arguing when police arrived at the home. The man fled when police attempted to arrest him on a felony for violating the protection order.
Drunken driver- Police arrested a 34-year-old Minneapolis man and took him to jail for driving while intoxicated about 11 p.m. on Jan. 7 at 12th Avenue and 77th Street East. 
 

 

Man stabbed - A 30-year-old North Minneapolis man was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center with stab wounds to his chest about 3 a.m. New Year's day after a clerk at SuperAmerica, 7720 Lyndale Ave. S., saw him bleeding outside the store. Police later found the man walking near 77th and Harriet, and paramedics took him to the hospital.
Felony threats - A 19-year-old Richfield man was arrested and jailed for felony terroristic threats after police responded to a domestic assault call at an apartment in the 500 block of 73rd Street East just after midnight Jan. 1. Three other people who live in the apartment were listed as victims in a police report, but no one was reported hurt in the incident.
Truck stolen- Police are looking for a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban valued at $30,000 stolen from outside Motel 6, 7640 Cedar Ave., sometime Jan. 2. The owner of the truck is a 46-year-old man from Ramsey.
Shoplifter arrested- A 30-year-old Fridley man was jailed the night of Jan. 3 after he was caught shoplifting items valued at $217, including DVDs and CDs, from Target, 6445 Richfield Parkway. The man was arrested for shoplifting and assault after he resisted officers, according to police.

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