Robbery Spree Near State Fairgrounds Prompts Emergency Alert, Ends With Arrest And Ongoing Manhunt
ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Sunday, August 17, 2025, a string of armed robberies in the eastern Twin Cities metro triggered a police chase, an emergency alert near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, and a large-scale law enforcement search that ended with one arrest and two suspects still at large.
A Morning of Violence
The spree began just before 7:00 a.m. when three gas stations were robbed at gunpoint within a span of just over two hours.
6:54 a.m. — The first robbery occurred at a Speedway on Rice Street in Roseville.
8:34 a.m. — A second incident was reported at a BP station on Little Canada Road in Little Canada.
9:05 a.m. — A third robbery took place at another BP station on Cleveland Avenue in Roseville, where a clerk was physically assaulted by one of the suspects.
Investigators believe the same group of suspects carried out all three crimes.
Pursuit and Crash Near the Fairgrounds
Roseville and St. Anthony police located the suspects’ vehicle shortly after the third robbery. A pursuit followed into St. Paul, ending when the fleeing vehicle crashed near Pierce Butler Route and Prior Avenue, less than a mile from the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Three suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into nearby woods, prompting a heavy police response.
Countywide Alert
At 10:20 a.m., the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, working with Minnesota State Fair Police, issued a countywide emergency alert, urging residents to avoid the area south of the fairgrounds. The alert stated that Transit Way and the Canfield Street gates had been closed due to “police activity.”
The search involved multiple law enforcement agencies, K-9 units, and State Fair Police.
Resolution and Ongoing Search
By around noon, authorities issued an “all clear” alert, announcing that the immediate search had concluded and that the area was secure. One suspect had been taken into custody, while two others remain at large.
Authorities continue to investigate and are urging the public to report any information that could help locate the remaining suspects.
A Pre-Fair Disruption
The incident unfolded just days before the opening of the Minnesota State Fair, which begins Thursday. While the fairgrounds were not directly impacted, the proximity of the search heightened public concern and underscored the coordination between State Fair Police and local law enforcement.
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