Attorney: 'Good Samaritan' robbery was drug deal gone bad

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

OLIVIA -- Now that the chief suspect in the case of a roadside assault in Renville County has pled guilty, Renville County David Torgelson said he is considering criminal charges against the two people who reported the assault, which the suspect said was a drug deal that turned into a robbery.

The suspect, 16-year old John Raymond Renville of Morton, testified briefly Friday morning during a plea hearing in Renville County District Court.

Renville was wanted in connection with a reported assault that happened near Morton on Dec. 7.

In that case, the Renville County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call from two motorists who said they pulled over to help Renville with what they thought was a stalled car, only to be robbed at gunpoint.

As it turned out, the so-called "Good Samaritan" robbery did not happen for the reasons that investigators originally thought. New information, including Renville's testimony Friday, now suggests that the incident was a cocaine deal that went awry, Torgelson said.

Renville's attorney, James Dahlquist of Minneapolis, could not be reached for comment.

Law enforcement began searching for Renville shortly after receiving the call about the robbery, which happened on Renville County Road 15 near U.S. Highway 17. Renville was taken into custody three days after the reports on Dec. 10.

Renville testified briefly at Friday's hearing. He admitted firing a gun at the ground during the robbery but also said that between 14 and 15 ounces of cocaine were also involved in the incident. Renville said he originally meant to buy the cocaine but decided instead to rob the two people at gunpoint. He said he later got a ride to a city in Carver County, where he allegedly sold the cocaine.

Renville County District Judge Randall Slieter sentenced Renville to serve 365 days in jail and 10 years of probation following his testimony on Friday. Renville earlier agreed to allow the court to certify him to stand trial as an adult.

Torgelson said investigators learned about the drug deal after one of the two motorists complained to a third person about the cocaine being stolen. He said that third person turned around and informed police. He said the two motorists have refused to give statements about the alleged incident.

Renville entered a plea of guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm, which is considered a felony.

Torgelson said he is considering criminal charges against the two motorists but would not say whether or not they are imminent. He said charges of filing a false report and possession of cocaine--both gross misdemeanors--are possible.

He also said the 20-year old New Hope woman that was with Renville at the time of the robbery might not see additional charges in connection with the robbery. He said the woman, Valerie Foote, is still in custody at the Kandiyohi County Jail in Willmar on unrelated charges.