Armed robbery occurs at AV Tobacco in Apple Valley, two are arrested
Around 9:15 PM on Monday, January 23, 2023, the Apple Valley Police received a call about an armed robbery at AV Tobacco located at the 7500 block of 148th St West in Apple Valley, Minnesota. It was reported that a suspect came into the store with a handgun.
According to scanner traffic, the suspect is described as a male wearing dark clothes and a mask and they fled in an unknown direction in a black Dodge Charger. Police set up a perimeter around the business and requested K9s to the scene. The suspected car was seen in the Aldi's parking lot by an officer not too long after. The officer persuaded the vehicle before two subjects were seen fleeing the car on foot bear Whitney Drive and Pennock Lane.
One suspect was detained a few minutes later with the other suspect last seen fleeing eastbound on toward Cedar Avenue. The second suspect was described as a black male wearing a black hoodie, black/dark-colored jogger or sweat pants, and red tennis shoes. Additional help was called in including drones, the Dakota County Sheriff, and other area police agencies to set up a perimeter in the area.
Just after 10 PM, Apple Valley Police received a call about a disturbance at a home in the area of 139th St West. Details are limited at this time and we can not confirm these details yet, but through scanner traffic, it appears this disturbance might be related to the armed robbery that occurred earlier in the evening. The second suspect that was at large, might have gone back to this residence. Around an hour later, the Apple Valley Police Department brought in their BearCat SWAT vehicle after attempting to negotiate with the individual to come out over the phone. Just after 11:35 PM, the subject exited the residence and was taken into custody.
We will publish additional updates on this story as they become available and have reached out to the Apple Valley Police Department for more information on both incidents and to confirm if they are in fact connected.