On April 18, 2026, at approximately 9:23 P.M., police responded to a robbery call at Cub Foods, [ADDRESS REDACTED], Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Upon arrival, police spoke with an employee, TSF, who said he was working as a security guard at the time of the incident. TSF reported that the suspect, later identified as DEONTAYE IONTONIO RUSSELL – [DOB REDACTED], and an unknown male came into the store together, went their separate ways, then the unknown male brought merchandise to the cash register and left without paying for the merchandise.
TSF said that RUSSELL went to the same cash register, set down his merchandise, bagged the merchandise, then began arguing with DAS, the employee who was checking him out. RUSSELL went around the counter and got into DAS’s face. TSF reported that he approached RUSSELL and told him to step away from DAS. TSF said RUSSELL grabbed the grocery bags full of merchandise that he had not paid for and walked toward the exit. TSF told RUSSELL that he could not leave with the merchandise and tried to grab the bags out of RUSSELL’s hands.
TSF said RUSSELL held the bags tighter and would now allow TSF to take them. Eventually, TSF was able to get the bags away from RUSSELL and set them back on the register. TSF said RUSSELL grabbed him by his arms/shoulders, and they began shoving each other. While fighting with TSF, RUSSELL made statements like, “I got something for you,” “I’ll beat your ass,” and said that he was a “Blood”. RUSSELL then left the store. DAS told police that he was working in the self-checkout registers when the male who entered the store with RUSSELL set his merchandise on the counter but did not purchase anything.
The male said his friend had the EBT card and was going to be up to pay for it soon. DAS stated that the male then put the merchandise in a handheld shopping basket and exited the store without paying for the merchandise. Shortly thereafter, DAS said RUSSELL came to the same register and placed merchandise on the counter. RUSSELL then placed the unpurchased merchandise in grocery bags and began yelling at DAS. RUSSELL came around the counter and got into DAS’s face while continuing to yell. DAS said TSF approached RUSSELL and told him to back away from DAS. DAS reported that RUSSELL started yelling at TSF then grabbed the grocery bags full of unpurchased merchandise.
DAS said TSF told him to put the bags down and leave the store. However, RUSSELL did not put the bags down and tried to leave the store with them. DAS stated that TSF tried to take the bags from RUSSELL’s hands, but RUSSELL would not allow TSF to take them. Eventually, TSF was able to grab them from RUSSELL and set the bags on the counter. DAS said RUSSELL grabbed TSF then they began pushing each other. Eventually, TSF and RUSSELL separated, and RUSSELL left the store. Police located RUSSELL inside AutoZone, where he was also attempting to steal merchandise.
