Bail Set at $200K For Rochester Man Accused of Mini Crime Spree
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - An Olmsted County judge set bail at $200,000 today for a Rochester man accused of an armed robbery and a brutal assault.
39-year-old Bobby Booth was formally arraigned today on first-degree aggravated robbery, third-degree assault and a felony count of fifth-degree assault. Court records indicate he was arrested by Rochester police Thursday afternoon.
The third-degree assault charge alleges he knocked a man unconscious with a punch to his face after the victim attempted to intervene in an altercation at the Rochester Salvation Army on Tuesday. The criminal complaint says the alleged attack was captured on a video recording from a surveillance camera and shows Booth repeatedly punching the victim in the face, even after he had fallen to the ground.
The court document says the video also shows Booth get up and begin to walk away from the victim before he returned and kicked the man while he was lying motionless on the floor. The charges indicate the victim suffered six broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken collarbone, and a broken orbital bone on his face.
The reported robbery was reported Wednesday afternoon at a hotel on Commercial Drive Southwest. The criminal complaint alleges Booth was carrying a gun when he robbed a man of a duffel bag containing approximately $1300 in cash and other property.
READ MORE: Former Rochester Man Given Aggravated Sentence For 2002 Stabbing
The court document says the victim and his girlfriend were staying at the hotel and were asleep in their room when they were awakened by a woman knocking on the window. The victim told police she had been at the hotel the day before and wanted to retrieve some of her property. The victim also noted that the woman had a handgun with her and knew about the money in the duffel bag.
According to the charges, the victim and his girlfriend left the hotel room about five minutes later and were headed to their car when a blue SUV pulled up next to them and a man wearing a face mask and black gloves got out of the vehicle with a handgun and demanded his money. The victim stated he attempted to go back into the hotel but the robber tackled him and forcefully took the duffel bag.
The criminal complaint says the victim and his girlfriend both believed the robber was Booth, although the victim also indicated he did not know for sure. The victim also stated that he believed the woman who had just retrieved her property from the hotel room was in the SUV with Booth.
The court records indicate that following his arrest on Thursday, Booth admitted he was in a relationship with a woman but denied being with her when the robbery occurred. He stated that he had been in Burnsville at the time.
Booth is scheduled to return to court for a procedural hearing later this month.
More Minnesota News:
- Fight at Rochester Restaurant Leads to Charges Against MN Man
- Drug Dealer Admits to Minnesota Teen's Fentanyl-Induced Death
- Police Surveillance Leads to Meth Bust at Rochester Gas Station
12 Minnesota Adventures You Need to do Before You Die
Gallery Credit: Samm Adams
