WINONA, Minn, – A transient laborer who called police to report being robbed on a West End street by an armed man was himself arrested as a fugitive from Texas. The man, Dcorrien Trevor Najera, 22, was being held until Texas authorities could arrange transportation back to Texas. About the robbery, police admit being confused and largely clueless. Here’s what’s known starting about 11 p.m.
Najera. Loose ends and dead-ends in his robbery account.
> The man who phoned police about being robbed had been staying two months at Days Inn while working a local job.
> The man said he met a hotel employee, whom he knew only as P.J. The hotel, which has a minimal night staff – only a night clerk– reported no one matching P.J.’s description worked there.
> The man told police that P.J. offered to sell him marijuana for $80.
> The man said he and P.J. crossed U.S. Highway 61 and walked three blocks to the Maplewood apartment complex for the marijuana.
> The man said he gave P.J. $80, then P.J. went into the apartment building.
> The man said he waited outside for P.J. to return with the marijuana.
> When P.J. came out, the man said, P.J. had no marijuana and refused to give back the $80 — and demanded that the nan empty his pockets and give him everything he had. The man sud e answered he hat he had no more oney. Was P.J. armed? When the man first called police, he had said he was the victim o an armed robbery. Well, the man now said that he didn’t really see a gun but that P.J. made movements as if he had one. Later, when police checked the Maplewood building to corroborate the man’s account, they found one apartment locked and vacant and the people at the only other apartment blank-faced about the police questions.
> Meanwhile, earlier on the street, the man said he had told P.J. he would call police about being ribbed, at which point, he said, P.J. took his cell phone and threw it.
> The man said that P.J. fled west on Seventh Street. The man said he gave chase but couldn’t catch P.J. “What did P.J. look like?” police asked. The man said P.J. was black and wearing a dark coat, a neck gator, ripped jeans and gray Nike shoes. Police searched the neighborhood and found no one of that description.
> At the hotel, police found no video evidence of the man and P.J. leaving.
So, dear reader, what do you make of this tale? We don’t know either. Nor do police. Does it matter? There have been charges filed against the man in Winona, and he soon will be back in custody in Texas, perhaps never to return. What abiut P.J.? We dunno either. But the man who reported being robbed told police said he feared P.J. might retaliate. Quoting the an loosely: “Please, please, don’t release my name lest P.J. find me.”