Man Charged In Finger-Breaking Ring Robbery

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Charges came down Thursday on a Fridley man who allegedly broke the finger of a Kay Jewelers employee while robbing the store of a diamond ring worth more than $15,000 late last year.

The Anoka County Attorney's Office said 23-year-old Matthew Thomas Kennedy faces a first-degree aggravated robbery charge stemming from an incident that occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 30, 2012.

Police said surveillance video of the robbery led to Kennedy's arrest Tuesday after authorities received numerous tips.

According to an earlier report, the surveillance video shows a man enter a Kay Jewelers at Riverdale Mall, and after a few seconds, a clerk comes to the counter.

Police said staffers were leery of him, because of his age and the type of ring he was asking to see.

The clerk puts a 1.6 carat princess cut Leo diamond set in white gold on her finger. Surveillance videos show the man rip the ring off her finger with enough force to fracture the bone. He then ran from the store and got away in a white Toyota Celica.

"Greed never lends itself to the best judgment and this alleged foolish act has lead (sic) to an employee getting hurt," said Tony Palumbo, the county attorney.

Kennedy appeared in court Thursday; his bail was set at $75,000. The attorney's office said Kennedy was ordered to have no contact with Kay Jewelers, or the store employee.

If convicted, Kennedy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a $10,500 fine.