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St. Paul Man Accused Of Robbing, Assaulting Elderly Man On LRT Platform

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 44-year-old St. Paul man is accused of robbing and assaulting an elderly man at a Green Line platform in St. Paul Monday evening, according to charges filed in Ramsey County.

On Monday at 7:11 p.m., Metro Transit police officers were patrolling the Green Line on LRV 235 at 10th Street in St. Paul when they noticed a disturbance. A man, identified as Eric Goran Larson, was swearing and walking quickly down the platform.

The officers then followed the man. Meanwhile, a witness told the officers that Larson had just beat up an elderly man.

When officers located the victim, who is 79 years old, he told officers that Larson grabbed his bag of groceries while he was buying a ticket.

The victim said he then tried to take the bag back. That's when Larson allegedly pushed him against the wall and punched him multiple times. Larson also allegedly threatened to throw the victim on the tracks and said "it's not your day, old man."

Eric Gordon Larson
(credit: Ramsey County)

The victim also stated that the assault resulted in his $300 prescription glasses breaking.

Officers then approached Larson and told him that he was under arrest, which Larson responded to by saying "you're not f---king arresting me!" He was then combative with officers, who needed to take him to the ground to handcuff him.

In a post-Miranda interview, Larson claimed that the victim was trying to take his bag. However, security video showed that the elderly victim's account was true.

Larson is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery, a felony, in connection to the incident. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison and/or a $35,000 fine.

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