By Bruce Karnick

[email protected]

Hastings, January 5, 2022 The Hastings Walgreens located at 1017 Vermillion Street was robbed at gunpoint on January 5, sometime around 9:00 p.m.

According to an email response from Deputy Chief David Wilske, “a black male dressed in dark clothing, gray hooded sweatshirt, wearing a COVIDtype mask pointed a handgun at the cashier and demanded money from the register. The cashier complied and he fled the scene. Officers established a perimeter and attempted to track the suspect with our K9, but he was not located. The case is under investigation by our department.”

No further details were made public at this time. The suspect stole an undisclosed amount of money.

Cottage Grove, January 6, 2022 Carbone’s of Cottage Grove, located at 7155 Jorgenson Ln, scanner reports described an armed male suspect entered the restaurant and demanded the cash from the register. The suspect was described as a white male, skinny build, around 5’11” tall wearing black pants and a mask. It was unknown if he left on foot or in a vehicle.

If you have any information that would assist in the arrest of either suspect, please contact the respective police departments by calling 911 and identifying the call as a non-emergency call regarding a tip for a recent burglary.

When you are out and about supporting local businesses, keep an eye on the staff, especially at the slower times. Sometimes, just your presence being known in the business can be enough to scare bad guys away.