News

Three men have been charged in connection with a robbery that occurred at a St. Cloud gas station nearly three months ago. Twenty-one-year-old Tito Marquel Smith Jr., 19-year-old Tyrell Deshawn Smith, and 22-year-old Zachary Michael Arignamath have been charged with one felony count of first-degree robbery and two separate felony counts of first-degree aiding and abetting robbery. At approximately 2:36 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, law enforcement was flagged down at the gas station in the 1000 block of 9th Avenue South. Officers made contact with someone referred to as Victim A in the criminal complaint, who said he had just been robbed inside the gas station. According to Victim A, he was inside the gas station when two males approached him and asked if he sold marijuana. When Victim A said he did not, a brief exchange followed, during which one of the males punched him in the back of the head. The suspects then took a bag Victim A had been carrying, which contained $500 in cash and a cell phone. Surveillance footage obtained by Investigator Gronli of the St. Cloud Police Department allegedly showed the two suspects, identified as Smith Jr. and Smith, approaching Victim A and conversing before exchanging phones. At one point, Victim A removed a stack of cash from his bag and showed it to the pair, before Smith Jr. lunged for it. Both men struggled over the bag before Smith grabbed Victim A from behind and helped Smith Jr. force him to the ground. Another male, identified as Zachary Arignamath approached and pushed Victim A to the ground. Smith Jr. and Smith continued trying to take the bag, and an unidentified male joined the altercation to assist them. Arignamath then stepped back from the struggle to keep watch at the station’s windows, while Smith Jr. eventually fled with the stack of cash. Both Smith and the unidentified male continued struggling with Victim A briefly before also leaving the scene with some cash. According to the criminal complaint, none of the three men was originally identified or located at the time of the incident. Upon confirming the three men’s identities, warrants were subsequently issued for their arrests. Smith was later apprehended and released on bail, with a court appearance scheduled for Friday, July 10. Smith Jr. and Arignamath remain at large. The St. Cloud Police Department has not provided any information on the whereabouts of the unidentified male.

An 18-year-old St. Cloud man faces felony charges after a drive-by shooting on Monday. According to the criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court, gunshots were fired into a moving car with two adults and a child inside. St. Cloud Police were dispatched to a residence on a report of a shooting. The caller told police that one of the victims reported DeShawn Evans Jr. and his friends shot at her car on Veterans Drive in St. Cloud. Officers observed two bullet holes in the rear driver's door, and bullet fragments were found inside the door near a child's car seat. The charges allege Evans and a juvenile had followed the three to the gas station. Witnesses and the victims told authorities that when the victims exited onto eastbound Veterans Drive, Evans' SUV sped up next to them. At that same time, one of the occupants in Evans' vehicle allegedly fired gunshots into the victim's vehicle. No one was hurt in the shooting. The original caller told officers that every time Evans and the juvenile believed to be involved in the shooting see the victim, they fight him. St. Cloud Police used search warrants at the homes of the two suspects and allegedly found handguns and ammunition. Police say the ammunition matched the shell casings found along the 2600 block of Veterans Drive. Evans is charged with aiding and abetting a drive-by shooting and two counts of aiding and abetting 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. Evans is due in court on June 29th. Any criminal charges against the juvenile will be adjudicated through juvenile court unless a Stearns County District Court judge rules they should be tried as an adult.

Little Falls Community Schools are reminding students and parents that there is a free summer meals program which started on June 1st through August 14th. No cost, no sign up just show up for breakfast 7:30am-8:30am and lunch 11am-12:15pm Monday through Friday at Lincoln Elementary on the west side of Little Falls through door #20. All children and teens in the area, no matter if part of the school district ages 18 and younger are welcome to take part in the free breakfast and lunch program at Lincoln Elementary School in Little Falls through the summer. 

A busy Thursday of events, there is a parade at 6pm tonight in Buckman for 250th Birthday of America, Red White and Blue decorated on anything with wheels to be driven around the city of Buckman to celebrate the birthday of the United States. Lakes Jam Music Festival starts tonight with classic country acts Terri Clark, Neal McCoy and Chris Cagle at Brainerd International Raceway. The Cass County Fair continues in Pine River today through Saturday, and The Morrison County Fair begins today (Thursday) with 4-H open dairy goat shows, poultry show, Gopher State Carnival starts at noon, Antique Tractor Display from Greater Minnesota 2 Cylinder Club 12-7pm, 4-H Rabbit Show, Mike Walker impressionist at 6pm, Bingo, Sues Country Sunshine at 2:30pm, Emmy Sues Ring of Dreams Adaptive Livestock Show at 6:30pm and IV Play at the Grandstand at 7:30pm tonight for day and night 1 at the Morrison County Fairgrounds on County Road 43 east of Little Falls. Get more details on the county fair at fallsradio.com. Also listen to KLTF Party Line live at the fair with guest from the 4-H, United Way, Ag Learning Center, Extension Office and more about items at the fair 10:05am Thursday on KLTF. 

Death Notices: Betty L. Brezinka, age 89 of Little Falls.

Weather: morning clouds to afternoon sun, high 74 today tonight partly cloudy skies low 52. Friday partly sunny skies, high 77, increasing clouds Friday night low 57, partly sunny and humid on Saturday high 82 with gusty winds over 30mph at times, storms late Saturday night into early Sunday with heavy rains, low around 66. Storms in the morning Sunday then strong to severe storms by evening Sunday night, high near 90 low around 68. Monday sunny and hot, high 95, strong afternoon and evening storms Monday night low around 70. Tuesday sunny and hot, high 91, low 66. Wednesday sunny and hot, high 90, low around 66 both days could produce isolated T-storms by late in the day. 

Sports: LA Dodgers win 4-3 last night over Twins sweeping the series, the Twins have today off then host Colorado on Friday night. Lynx come back to beat Washington 78-76 last night in the WNBA. Lynx 14-4 will be at Dallas on Sunday. Timberwolves drafted Trey Kaufman-Renn of Purdue in the 2nd round last night of the NBA Draft, also with the Nets picking Isaiah Evans from Duke with 33rd pick that pick will be traded to the Timberwolves when the Julius Randle deal is finalized when the draft is completed. Team USA vs. Turkey tonight at 9pm in World Cup Soccer. Little Falls VFW won 2 more games on Wednesday over Pierz 11-1 and then 6-2, Little Falls VFW is now 10-1 on the season. Little Falls American Legion will host St. Cloud 76ers tonight at 6pm at Flyer Field. There are a number of Victory League games on Friday night this week, some Saturday and more on Sunday get the schedule on the sports page at fallsradio.com. The Game of the Week is Opole at Upsala Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.

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