A masked man armed with a gun grabbed a woman as she left a business near County Road C and East Snelling Service Drive in Roseville around 5 p.m. Wednesday, then held her captive for several hours before releasing her on the east side of St. Paul, according to police. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment following the ordeal, and investigators are working to identify and locate the man.
The Roseville Police Department announced the active kidnapping and assault investigation this week, according to the Pioneer Press. Detectives are working to identify and locate the suspect, and they're asking anyone who was near the intersection to come forward with anything they saw.
A Seven-Hour Window Investigators Want Covered
Roseville detectives have asked nearby residents, businesses and motorists to dig up surveillance, doorbell and dash-camera footage recorded between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. Wednesday, a window that begins two hours before the abduction, per KARE 11. Police have also assigned additional patrol officers to the area as the search continues. The department is working alongside the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and other law enforcement partners on the case, reflecting how the crime crossed jurisdictional lines from suburban Roseville to St. Paul's east side.
To make it easier for the public to help, the Roseville Police Department has set up a dedicated online link where people can upload photo and video evidence directly to investigators, the station's report notes. That digital portal runs alongside the department's standard tip line at 651-767-0640, and tips can also be submitted online through cityofroseville.com.
Key Details Police Have Not Released
Roseville police have not publicly identified the victim, named the business she left, or offered a detailed description of the suspect beyond a masked man with a firearm, according to Bring Me The News. Officials also haven't said whether the attack was targeted or random. In the meantime, police have advised community members who feel unsafe to move toward well-lit, populated areas.
Roseville police are investigating the incident as a kidnapping.
The Minnesota State Patrol broke ground this month on a new $119 million headquarters in Roseville that will consolidate state patrol operations previously spread across six metro locations, according to the KEYC News Now. For now, though, the immediate focus remains on this week's kidnapping, with detectives urging anyone with camera footage or information from Wednesday afternoon and evening to come forward as the search for the masked suspect continues.
