A Rochester man climbed through a woman’s window late at night, threw her belongings and took her phone while she was on the line with dispatch, prosecutors say.
David Franklin Bentley, who was 39 at the time of the alleged offense, faces five charges: simple robbery, two counts of driving while impaired, interfering with an emergency call and trespassing.
According to the complaint, officers responded to a residence in northwest Rochester at about 11:55 p.m. on June 18 after dispatch received a call from the victim, who reported that a man she knew had entered through her window and taken her phone. The call ended after the victim was heard screaming, “Don’t do it! Don’t do it! Please don’t do it!” followed by shuffling sounds.
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When officers arrived, they saw a vehicle leaving the residence and stopped it. Officers identified the driver as Bentley and took him into custody. A drug recognition evaluator noted Bentley smelled of alcohol, had watery glassy eyes, dilated pupils, tremors and jaw clenching. Bentley admitted to drinking earlier that day and provided a preliminary breath test showing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.09.
The victim told officers that Bentley had climbed through her living room window, rummaged through and threw her belongings and continued to throw property after she left to call law enforcement. While the victim was on the phone with dispatch, Bentley took her cell phone and tried to leave with it.
Bentley was arrested and transported to Saint Mary’s Hospital, where he provided a blood sample under a search warrant. The sample later tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine and showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04, according to the complaint.
The complaint notes Bentley was previously convicted of driving while intoxicated on April 3, 2026.
The charges include simple robbery for taking the victim’s phone, driving while impaired for operating a vehicle with alcohol and controlled substances in his system, interfering with emergency communications for disrupting the 911 call and trespassing for entering the residence through a window.
The case was filed September 29 in Olmsted County District Court.
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Jurisdictional Context
Olmsted County encompasses Rochester and is served by the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office through the Third Judicial District. Felony cases are heard at the Olmsted County Government Center in downtown Rochester.
