A 58-year-old Pine City man is facing felony charges after the Time Out Bar and Grill in Rock Creek was robbed at gunpoint late Sunday night.
According to the criminal complaint, a man dressed in black and wearing a mosquito net over his face walked into the bar around 11:28 p.m. and held the staff and patrons at gunpoint. He reportedly took over $6,496 from the till and pull tab boxes.
A witness outside the bar told law enforcement that he observed a white Cadillac Escalade with rims and tinted window back into a parking spot, which he thought was odd.
Witnesses inside the bar reported that the suspect told them something to the effect of “it’s not worth dying over money” and told everyone to count to 50 before they got up.
Law enforcement tracked the Escalade to the Grand Casino in Hinckley, where they made contact with Jimmy Hensley.
The vehicle's owner said that he had gone to Time Out Bar and Grill with Hensley earlier that day, but he did not know that Hensley had left the house again.
In the complaint, deputies noted that Hensley was wearing clothing similar to what was described by witnesses.
Hensley told law enforcement that he was the primary driver of the Cadillac. He confirmed that they had been at the Time Out Bar earlier that day.
He also told deputies that he had previously served 32 years in jail for an armed robbery conviction, and he was currently on parole.
The complaint noted that Hensley had been convicted of first-degree arson and second-degree burglary in 1987, and later in 1994, he was convicted of taking hostages, armed robbery, and false imprisonment.
During the conversation, a deputy observed multiple large bundles of small denominations of US currency in his shirt and pants pockets. Hensley said that he had about $4,500 in cash on his person.
A search warrant was executed on his residence. Deputies found clothing and a handgun that matched what was seen on security camera footage from the robbery.
Hensley has been charged with five felonies including Aggravated Robbery, Simple Robbery, Theft, Second Degree Assault, and being in possession of a firearm after being convicted of a violent crime.
Isanti County names interim administrator
The Isanti County Board of Commissioners named Human Resources Director Amanda Usher as interim county administrator during Wednesday’s meeting.
Usher’s appointment to the role will be effective as of Monday, July 10. She has also served as deputy administrator under interim Chad Struss, who is leaving his county role as auditor-treasurer on July 22.
The Isanti County Board has returned to the drawing board in its search for a full-time administrator. The commissioners declined to direct staff to seek candidates for the role during their discussion.
The position has been posted twice in the last five months.
The job was offered to Isanti City Administrator Josi Wood last month, but Wood elected to remain with the city after being offered a comparable contract.
Pine County Sheriff’s Office looking for information after paintballs shot from car
The Pine County Sheriff’s Office is looking for information after receiving reports of people shooting paintballs from a vehicle in the Pine City area.
According to Sheriff Jeff Nelson, the car was described as a dark grey passenger car. In an interview on the WCMP morning show, he said that he’d like to talk with those involved.
"There was unfortunately one younger girl who got hit when they shot at a passing car," Nelson said. "It went in through the window and hit her. I would like to talk to the people involved, just to educate them on how bad of a decision it was."
The incident happened on Monday, July 3.
Those with information can contact the Pine County Sheriff’s Office's non-emergency line.
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