Apple Valley Armed Robbery Suspects Identified
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - Two of the three suspects involved in the armed robbery in Apple Valley, Minnesota, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, have been identified, and initial charges have been made following their first court appearances this morning. This is a follow-up story to yesterday's article: Three Arrested Following Armed Robbery in Apple Valley, MN.
According to a criminal complaint released by the Dakota County Attorney's Office, 38-year-old Anthony Rowan of Saint Paul Park, Minnesota, was charged with Felony Aggravated Robbery in the 1st Degree and Felony Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle, and 23-year-old Maurice Smith of St Paul, Minnesota, was charged with Felony Aggravated Robbery in the 1st Degree. Due to the third suspect being a minor, he was not identified in the criminal complaint.
The criminal complaint states that this incident occurred outside a gym in the 15100 block of Cedar Avenue in Apple Valley, Minnesota. The incident occurred after the victim was contacted via Telegram to design a sweatshirt. The victim went to the location where he was told to meet the individual who made the request. A male subject entered the front passenger seat of his car, and they began to discuss the design when, a few seconds later, the driver's side rear passenger door was opened, and a black male pointed a gun at his head and climbed into the vehicle. The suspect with the gun instructed the victim to give all his belongings to the male in his passenger seat, all while he was pushing the gun to the back of the victim's head. He also told the victim he would shoot him.
Per the criminal complaint, the victim then told police the male in the passenger seat removed his keys from the ignition and took his wallet before they left the victim's car. The two individuals got into a silver Dodge Dart and fled the scene.
Apple Valley Police Officers spotted a vehicle matching that vehicle's description traveling northbound on Cedar Avenue. They attempted to initiate a traffic stop with lights and siren, but the vehicle did not stop. As the car was fleeing police, it reached speeds over 100 mph, according to the criminal complaint, and was also reported to have turned off its lights. The vehicle eventually took the exit for Cliff Road from northbound Cedar Avenue and crashed after it hit a curb. All three suspects fled the car into a nearby wooded area. A perimeter was set up with help from neighboring police departments, and a drone and K9 were brought in to search for the suspects. They were found a short time later and taken into custody.
The Victim identified all three suspects following a show-up identification according to the criminal complaint. Mr. Rowan was identified as the driver of the vehicle, Mr. Smith was identified as the male in his passenger seat, and the juvenile male was identified as the person who entered the car's back seat with the gun.
Anthony Michael John Rowan was charged with the following charges per the criminal complaint:
Felony Aggravated Robbery in the 1st Degree
Sentence/Fines: 5 to 20 years and/or a fine of $10,500 to $35,000Felony Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle
Sentence/Fines: 0 to 3 years and/or a fine of $1,50 to $5,000
Maurice Jason Smith was charged with the following charges per the criminal complaint:
Felony Aggravated Robbery in the 1st Degree
Sentence/Fines: 3 to 20 years and/or a fine of $10,500 to $35,000
Dakota County Jail: Pictured: Anthony Rowan (left), Maurice Smith (right)
