2 Charged with Strong-Arm Robbery in Southwest Minneapolis

Two Minneapolis men have been charged with robbing a man in Southwest Minneapolis.

Ahmed Asad Amin, 18, and Marcus Darrell Pederson, 18, are charged with simple robbery, a felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaints, signed by Minneapolis Police Sgt. Timothy Davison, police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery near Nicollet Avenue South and 57th Street West at about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 2.

Police met with the victim, a 46-year-old man, who told them he had been walking north on Nicollet from the nearby Cub Foods when he passed three young men. One of the men remarked on the victim’s sunglasses, and just after the victim passed the group, one ran up to him and began punching him, the victim said.

The two struggled, and the victim was able to throw his attacker to the ground, according to the complaints. At that point, the attacker’s two companions ran up, and one began hitting the victim on the back of his head while pulling at his backpack, the victim told police.

During the confrontation, an SUV drove up beside the group, and the driver honked her horn. The assailants yelled that the victim had started the fight, then fled south on Nicollet, carrying the victim’s backpack, the complaints say.

The victim provided descriptions of his assailants’ appearances and clothing, and officers began to patrol the area. Shortly afterward, they spotted three men matching the descriptions standing near the Cub store; as they approached, one of the men fled, pulling off his shirt as he ran.

The man, caught a short distance away, was identified as Amin. The other two men were taken into custody; one was identified as Pederson.

The victim identified Amin as the man who initiated the attack, and Pederson as the one who joined the fight and hit him on the back.

The unidentified, uncharged man told police that he had been with Amin and Pederson when Amin spotted the victim and told the other two, “There’s some money,” then approached the victim and began hitting him. Pederson told police that Amin initiated the attack and admitted that he had joined the fight and took the victim’s backpack, according to the complaints.

Both Amin and Pederson have been released from custody on separate $40,000 bonds. Omnibus hearings are scheduled Nov. 7 for Amin and Nov. 8 for Pederson in Hennepin County District Court.