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Owatonna man faces armed robbery charges
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By COREY BUTLER JR.

news@owatonna.com



FARIBAULT — An Owatonna man made his first appearance in Rice County District Court on Monday for his alleged involvement in robbing a man at gunpoint.

It’s alleged that on Oct. 15, 19-year-old Alonzo Lee Freeman, along with two other men, waited in a car at a Faribault restaurant parking lot.

The three were meeting with a fourth man, who was there to selling them marijuana, according to a criminal complaint filed with Rice County District Court.

When the fourth man approached the car, Freeman, who went by the name “Smooth,” was sitting in the passenger seat of the car and told the man to get in the car, the charges allege.

Freeman allegedly told the man he wanted to buy 1/2-ounce of marijuana for $240.

When the man showed Freeman the marijuana, the charges say Freeman grabbed the marijuana and the driver moved the car from that parking lot to another restaurant parking lot about a block away.




As they were driving, Freeman pulled a gun out and pointed it at the fourth man and allegedly said, “Shut up or I’ll shoot you,” the charges say.

When the driver stopped the car at the second parking lot, Freeman asked if the man had anything else on him and he handed over $15, according to the charges.

The man got out of the car at Freeman’s orders,  and was told not to say anything or he would get hurt, the charges say.

The alleged victim knew the driver through a relative and Faribault Police were able to question him. He corroborated the victim’s account when questioned by Faribault Police, the charges say.

Freeman was also identified in photos by the alleged victim.

Freeman is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery and faces 20 years in prison, a $35,000 fine, or both.

His bail is set at $30,000 without conditions and $10,000 with conditions.

No other charges have been filed.
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Member Opinions:
By: quinn on 10/27/09
Finding it hard to muster much sympathy for the "alleged victim".

By: Whereiscommonsense on 10/27/09
More violent crime heading south out of the Twin Cities area down into our community...throw the book at 'em and let others know that crime doesn't pay in our community and severe penalties result for those attempting such moronic behavior!!

By: atlascollapsed on 10/27/09
I agree Q. $240 for a half oz. is highway robbery.LOL. But this does kind of make one wonder. I mean really. Going to the police and complaining "this guy stole my weed!" does make me scratch my head. No mention of charges against someone admitting to the police that he was selling drugs? I guess I could buy the "police informant" angle, but why not go after the guy with 20 pounds who sells it to mystery man #4 instead of someone silly enough to spend $120 a quarter?

By: ridiculous on 10/27/09
LOL!! WOW - "Hello hi police? Um yeah I was just trying to sell some weed and the guy I was selling it to stole it from, um do you think you could arrest him and get it back for me? gee thanks!"

By: cialunatic on 10/27/09
And the story ends by saying "no other charges have been filed." Are the Faribault police for real. Someone comes to them admitting they sell drugs and they say that's okay as long as you can help us get the person that stole them from you. I think that person should get charged too. What's next, a person steals some money but then someone else steals from them and you only charge the last person? Here was a good opportunity to get two criminals off the streets and now one is an alleged victim and gets to go free.

By: Indians on 10/27/09
Why don't we set bail at more reasonable/achievable prices so that we can lower my tax rates? These d-bags can't afford $30K.

By: Mindyourpeace on 10/27/09
Chances are this victim is busy informing the police of other activities.
Criminal stealing from a criminal....PRICELESS!

By: cialunatic on 10/30/09
Let's play devil's advocate Indians. If you were robbed at GUNPOINT would you then want that person to achieve bail? I'm not so sure that I want that person easily back on the streets. Small bail may mean more cost in the long run.

 
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