On January 17, 2026 at approximately 11:00 A.M., law enforcement officers were dispatched to an intersection in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota on a report of an attempted robbery and assault. Upon arrival, an officer spoke to B. M. Who reported she was driving her car with an old neighbor, subsequently identified as CARTEZ LAMAR COOK [DOB REDACTED], in the passenger seat. B. M. Informed COOK she needed to go to the bank to cash a check. COOK asked B. M. To see the check. B. M. Refused at which point COOK started to get aggressive towards B. M. And reached across the seat, attempting to get B. M.’s purse.
COOK then pulled out a firearm from his backpack. B. M. Then stopped her vehicle and attempted to get out of the vehicle at which point COOK moved into the driver seat and put the car in drive while B. M. Was hanging out of the vehicle. COOK then crashed the vehicle at the intersection of Chicago and 38th Street East. COOK exited from the passenger side and took off running. COOK was located later that day in Columbia Heights and placed under arrest. COOK is currently in-custody in the Hennepin County Jail.