Oct 22

Oct 22 Update: Authorities ID suspect from Thursday's robbery in Eyota

It took local authorities less than a half hour to locate two suspects believed to be involved in the robbery of a liquor store Thursday morning in Eyota.

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office responded to Buddy’s Liquor, 270 Sandstone Drive NW, around 11:15 a.m. to report of an armed robbery. The lone female clerk on duty was able to provide a description of the suspects, their vehicle, a partial license plate and the vehicle's direction of travel.

"The clerk on duty at Buddy’s Liquor informed our deputies that two suspects entered the store, pointed a long gun at her, and demanded cash from the business," said Capt. Scott Behrns of the sheriff's office. The clerk "wisely complied with the demands of the suspects."

About 20 minute later, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer noticed a vehicle driving erratically near the intersection of County Roads 9 and 10 in Dover Township, about 10 miles away from the scene of the robbery.

The officer got out of his vehicle and asked the driver to slow down. When he got back into his vehicle, he heard a radio broadcast with a description of the robbery suspect's vehicle that matched the speeding vehicle.

He then observed the two individuals getting into a semi truck. According to the sheriff's office, the pair told the driver that their car was having trouble and needed a ride. The semi driver was simply being a "Good Samaritan," says the report.

The DNR officer detained the two suspects until deputies arrived. The liquor store clerk was able to positively identify the male suspect, David Martinez, 28, as being involved in the robbery. He faces several charges, including 1st-degree aggravated robbery.

The female in the vehicle, 36, was later released. Martinez took full responsibility for the robbery, notes the report. There is no indication that the woman knew Martinez was going to rob the store ahead of time.

At Friday morning's press briefing, Berhns said it was ultimately the clerk who made this case possible. "She did a fantastic job considering the circumstances she was under."