RPD investigating armed robbery at Casey’s gas station

(ABC 6 News) – Rochester police released a photo of an unknown man following an armed robbery Monday night.

According to Capt. Casey Moilanen with the Rochester Police Department, the man entered the Casey’s gas station at 4500 Service Drive NW just before 9 p.m., while one employee was on a break and the other, a 40-something woman, was near the register.

According to Moilanen, the man came around the counter, brandishing a baton-type taser at the woman, and demanded she open the store safe for him.

Moilanen said the employee told police the man switched the taser on and off in her hearing, but did not move to use it on her.

“When she could not open the safe, the man took cash from the register and fled southbound on foot. Officers responded to the location, but did not locate the suspect,” Moilanen said.

The suspect was described as being between 5’7″ and 5’9″, weighing between 150 and 160 pounds.

“In this case the cashier did the right thing by just giving the money to the person. i think that’s the safest way to handle these situations. most of these businesses are insured and normally people don’t get a lot of money when they do robberies like this,” Moilanen said.

Moilanen said anyone with information about the suspect or robbery should contact Rochester police at 507-328-6800 or use the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line, 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).