Bail reduced for men accused of Robbery, stabbing in Rochester

Rochester, Minn. (KROC-AM News) – Bail was reduced this week for two men accused of robbery and stabbing at a Rochester cell phone store.

Conditional bail for each man was set at $50,000 following their arraignment in Olmsted County Court on May 29.

Rochester Police responded to the report of a robbery and stabbing around 8:30 p.m. on the night of May 28.

Criminal complaints filed against Ahmed Abdulqadir Ali, 26 years old And Bilal Ali Hilowle, 20 years old accuse the Rochester men of breaking into the AT&T cell phone store near Crossroads Hy-Vee as the company's employees were closing for the day.

A regional manager called 911 and said a break-in was in progress and was visible on the store's surveillance cameras. Responding officers spotted one of the employees lying in the store's office with a large laceration to his calf.

The charges say one of the robbers took the store manager to the safe and ordered him to open it. The store manager told police he complied, but then told the thieves the safe had a feature that requires a 10-minute waiting period before the door opens. actually opens.

The manager says he then showed the thieves a box of used and returned phones, and while they rummaged through the box, he was able to lock himself in the safe.

The criminal complaint says the other store employee was left alone with the thieves in the hallway. A few minutes later, the other employee entered the safe and told the manager he had been stabbed.

Rochester police reported the worker suffered a serious laceration during a struggle with the thieves.

The two suspects were later captured after responding officers spotted them nearby in the Crossroads Mall parking lot.

The court document says Ahmed was apprehended after being found hiding near some trees, while Bilal Hilowe was arrested outside the nearby Andy's Liquor store.

Both men are charged with first-degree robbery.

The judge presiding over the case granted the defense's motion to reduce each defendant's bail. Ali's conditional bail was reduced to $5,000, while Hilowle's was reduced to $10,000.

Court records show Hilowle posted bail Thursday. At last check, Ali remains in custody at the Olmsted County Jail. Both men are due to appear in court again next month.