Police: Man robbed at gunpoint in Woodbury

A West St. Paul man reported being robbed last week in Woodbury after meeting up with a man he met on Craigslist.com.

According to a police report, officers were called at 7:49 p.m. Sept. 6 to the R.H. Stafford Branch Library for a robbery report. A man there told police that a man he had met for a Craigslist exchange pulled a gun on him and took his money.

The report describes the events unfolding this way:

The victim parked his car just after 7 p.m. outside Woodbury’s Central Park, where he met the suspect, a Woodbury man.

The suspect said he needed a ride to a friend’s house and pointed to an area in the 2200 block of Vining Drive. When they got there, the victim reached under his seat for the money. When he came up, the suspect produced a 9mm handgun.

Though the suspect said nothing, the West St. Paul man gave the suspect the money -- $350 cash –- “to avoid being injured,” the report states.

The victim said the suspect left the car and ran off.

The report only states that the men were to meet for an "item" related to Craigslist.

Police were investigating phone records and Craigslist communications.

Officers arrested the suspect, a 21-year-old Woodbury man on Friday, Sept. 7.

He was booked into Washington County jail on suspicion of aggravated robbery.

The exchange was arranged for the sale of an iPad, said Woodbury Police Cmdr. Jay Alberio.

"People have to be careful when they're responding to ads for sales," he said. "Be more cautious. Don't turn over money unless they have an item to purchase."

Alberio said the man could be charged this week.

The incident was the second reported strong-armed robbery reported in Woodbury in a week. On Aug. 31, police shot a man who ran out of a Red Roof Inn motel room after shots rang out there. Police later arrested a Stillwater man, who was charged with attempted murder, aggravated robbery and criminal sexual assault.

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