Two men arrested in St. Cloud home invasion
Two men have been arrested for breaking into a St. Cloud woman's home and threatening her at gunpoint.
A 27-year-old woman woke up early Wednesday morning to find two masked men with handguns at the foot of her bed, police said. The victim was assaulted, bound with duct tape, and threatened numerous times with a handgun.
The victim's 9-month-old child, who was lying on the bed next to her, was also threatened with a handgun, police said.
Police said the suspects appeared to be searching for valuable items, and ransacked the home and vehicle for about two hours before they left.
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The suspects allegedly stole cash and other property from the residence before fleeing.
The St. Cloud Metro Gang Strike Force, working with the St. Cloud and Brooklyn Park police departments, have arrested two men in connection with the home invasion robbery. One is from St. Cloud, and the other from St. Joseph.
Sgt. Martin Sayre, spokesman for the St. Cloud Police Department, said that evidence collected at the scene, statements from the victim, and intense efforts to locate the suspects accounted for the quick arrests.
"Given the severity of the crime, we put a significant amount of time into the arrest of these dangerous suspects," Sayre said.
Both suspects are being held in the Stearns County Jail pending charges of first-degree burglary, aggravated robbery, second-degree assault, false imprisonment, and terroristic threats.
Sayre said both men have ties to gangs, but do not meet the criteria to be registered as certified gang members by the St. Cloud Metro Gang Strike Force.