Charges: Twin Cities Man Broke Into Rochester Home Twice, Stole Victim’s Phone

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Twin Cities man is facing a list of felony charges tied to a pair of reported burglaries and a theft at a Rochester home. 

See Also: Breaking into Rochester Woman's Home Sends Man to Prison 

That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Wednesday. The first alleged burglary occurred on Monday and the second happened on Tuesday. 

Rochester Police officers arrested the suspect after both alleged break-ins, the charges say. 

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Police responded to the report of a domestic assault at a residence in northeast Rochester around 8:45 Monday night. 

A witness told officers a man identified as 18-year-old Tariq Deone Lee Hightower-Tutt had entered the home and was trying to break property. 

Responding officers were then told that Hightower-Tutt and a female living in the residence, who is identified as the victim in the complaint, had left in a silver vehicle. 

Officers then located the vehicle and found the Woodbury man with the victim, who also knew Hightower-Tutt. Police learned that Hightower-Tutt had gone to the residence to collect his property, the charges say. 

The complaint says Hightower-Tutt forced his way into the home after the victim told him she would collect his belongings. A witness told officers the two then went upstairs and the witness saw Hightower-Tutt pinning the victim down. 

Hightower-Tutt then took her phone and she followed him out of the house before the two got into the vehicle. He was then arrested and taken to the Olmsted County Jail before being released, the complaint says. 

Charges: Woodbury Man Broke Into Rochester Home For Second Time Hours After Being Released for Prior Burglary

Police responded to the same residence around 4:30 Tuesday morning on another report of a domestic assault. Responding officers found an exterior door of the home appeared to have been broken open, the charges say. 

The victim, who later told police she called 911 after hearing Hightower-Tutt pounding on the door, came out of a room she was hiding in and said Hightower-Tutt may still be inside, according to the complaint. 

Hightower-Tutt eventually came out of the home and was again arrested, the charges say. He’s charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, a count of simple robbery and also faces misdemeanor charges of property damage and disorderly conduct. 

A judge set Hightower-Tutt’s conditional bail at $30,000 following his first court appearance on Wednesday. He’s due back in court later this month.

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