A man is accused of telling a Minneapolis store security guard he had a gun while stealing frozen food, leaving the guard afraid for his safety, according to the complaint.
Devante Dupree Brooks, 29, of Minneapolis, is charged with second-degree aggravated robbery, a felony punishable by up to 15 years and/or a $30,000 fine, in a complaint filed Nov. 4 in Hennepin County District Court. A judge set bail at $50,000, and the complaint says Brooks is in custody.
READ MORE → Hennepin County coverage
According to the complaint, Minneapolis police were dispatched to a Dollar Tree store at 3001 Nicollet Ave. S. in Minneapolis at about 10:08 a.m. Nov. 3 after a report that an individual had stolen merchandise and said he had a gun. Officers arrested a suspect nearby who matched the description from dispatch and identified him as Brooks.
The complaint says officers found frozen pizza in Brooks’ backpack but did not locate a weapon. Officers spoke with a contracted security guard for the store, who said he saw Brooks put merchandise in his pockets. The guard told officers he was familiar with Brooks from prior interactions in the store.
The complaint says Brooks refused to return the items and told the guard he had a firearm concealed in his armpit area. The guard said he did not see a firearm but was afraid Brooks might use one to hurt him. The guard believed the items were taken from the frozen food section but was not sure of the exact products.
The complaint says Brooks then left the store. Officers also spoke with a Dollar Tree employee, who said she heard Brooks say he had a firearm.
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Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 44 other cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
