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ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - St. Paul police are investigating three assaults, all which involved the use of a stun gun, that happened over a three-day time span.
"[These cases] are all connected for the simple fact that someone's using a stun gun-type weapon in all three of these cases," said Sgt. Mike Ernster. "That's what makes it specific to what we're thinking might be connected. We don't see them a lot. You'll see them periodically, you don't see them in a short amount of time in multiple offenses."
Police say the first attack happened on Saturday around 9 a.m. near the intersection of Lexington Parkway and Montana Avenue, north of the Como Park Golf Course. A 61-year-old man told police he was out on a walk when three men walked up to him and attacked him with a stun gun. They also stole his keys. Police say the 61-year-old man suffered a broken finger and had to get stitches on his hand and head.
The second incident happened around 8:30 p.m. Monday on the 1500 block of Mississippi Street. A 23-year-old man told police he was riding his bike, when two suspects drove a vehicle into the back of his bike. While the biker was on the ground, the suspects used a stun gun on him, punched and kicked him multiple times and stole his cell phone before driving away. The biker suffered some bumps and bruises, but didn't need treatment at a hospital.
The third assault happened around 9:10 p.m. Monday on the 1400 block of Como Avenue, west of the Como Park Zoo. Police say a 23-year-old woman was jogging when two men pushed her to the ground and attacked her with a stun gun. When she started screaming, the suspects left. The woman, while shaken, was not injured.
In all three cases, the victims described their attackers as males wearing masks or tightly pulled hoods over their faces.
At the press conference, Sgt. Ernster shared a message for the suspects.
“Stop doing this you are causing a lot of harm to people, you’re making people scared to come outside,” he said.
Police will be increasing patrols in the areas where the assaults happened and are working to track down surveillance video. Officials are also warning joggers and bikers to be extra aware of their surroundings.
Anyone with information about these assaults is asked to call (651)266-5650.