3 Indicted in Armed Robbery Spree Near State Fair

Sep 11

Three men are facing federal charges after authorities say they carried out a string of armed robberies in Ramsey County, forcing a temporary shutdown of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

A federal grand jury indicted 21-year-old Dylan Charles Jungwirth, 21-year-old Kenneth Toy Spight and 18-year-old Kemonie Hurd on Hobbs Act robbery charges after what investigators describe as a dangerous spree on the morning of Aug. 17.

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The men allegedly used a stolen vehicle and a realistic airsoft gun to threaten store employees at three gas stations within just over three hours.

According to court documents, Jungwirth and Spight first entered a Speedway in Roseville around 5:56 a.m. and robbed the business at gunpoint. At 8:34 a.m., all three defendants are accused of robbing a BP station in Little Canada. About 30 minutes later, they struck again at another BP station in Roseville.

During the final robbery, prosecutors say one of the men demanded the cashier’s wallet. When the cashier resisted and tried to grab the gun, the robber struck the employee in the head, leaving a cut and a burst blood vessel in the eye.

PREVIOUSLY: 3 Charged in Violent Crime Spree Across Ramsey County

Police soon located the suspects’ vehicle and began a chase that ended in a crash in Saint Paul. One of the men was immediately arrested while the other two ran into nearby woods. The pursuit and search unfolded as crews were preparing for the Minnesota State Fair, causing authorities to issue an emergency alert at 10:20 a.m. telling people to avoid the fairgrounds. The grounds were closed until a second alert later declared the area safe. Officers eventually arrested all three suspects.

“The State Fair is one of Minnesota’s most cherished traditions. It is a time for all of us to come together and celebrate the state and the end of summer,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said in a statement. “These defendants brought violence to that celebration with their armed robbery spree. Anyone who does that will see federal charges.”

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All three suspects made their first appearances in federal court Tuesday and remain in custody. If convicted, they each face up to life in prison.

The investigation was handled by the FBI, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota State Fair Police Department, the Roseville Police Department and the St. Anthony Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian Weir is prosecuting the case.

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