MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – An 18-year-old Eagan man is accused of robbing a business where he previously worked after being accused of robbing the business in the past, according to charges filed in Dakota County Court.
Brandon Michael Trefethren was charged with one felony count of attempted first-degree aggravated robbery in connection with the April 23 incident.
According to the charges, Eagan Police were called at about 11:54 p.m. to a business on Lexington Avenue on a report of an attempted armed robbery. When officers arrived, an employee told police he was in the building alone when he heard a knock at the back door.
When he went to answer it, a white man with a dark ski mask and gloves displayed a handgun and gave the employee a note that said “Give me all the money in your register, safe and on your person. This will be real quick and easy if you listen to what I am telling you to do.” The employee told police the suspect was Trefethren, who had previously worked at the business, according to the complaint.
The complaint states the employee kicked Trefethren in the chest, slammed and locked the back door and called police.
Officers have a history with Trefethren and took him into custody when they found him biking near his home. They found on him a .38-caliber handgun and a .357 magnum revolver. The complaint states he told police had had previously been accused of robbing the business and was angry about it, so he did it to get back at them.
Trefethren admitted to being at the back door of the business and threatening the employee, and when he was kicked out with the door shut, he fired a handgun at the back door to scare people inside.
If convicted, Trefethren faces up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of nearly $18,000.
