Iowa men charged with robbery

Published 7:15 am Thursday, November 10, 2011

The two Iowa men arrested Monday after they allegedly robbed, duct-taped and dumped two women in Albert Lea were each charged on Wednesday with simple robbery.

Trayvon Forrest

Trayvon Marquis Forrest, 22, and Michael Lee Kraft, 18, both of Fort Dodge, Iowa, appeared in front of Freeborn County District Judge Ross Leuning on the charges.

According to court documents, Forrest and Kraft were reportedly giving two 18-year-old women from Wisconsin a ride on Interstate 35 when the incident occurred.

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Documents state the group had stopped for gas near the Diamond Jo Casino off of Interstate 35 when Forrest, seated in the front passenger seat, allegedly grabbed the women by the throats, hit them in the face and then wrapped duck tape over their mouths and eyes.

The driver, Kraft, continued to drive while this was going on.

After about five minutes, the car came to a stop, and the two men reportedly forced the women out of the car and then drove away.

Michael Kraft

The women ran to the Jansen Apartments on Jansen Street in Albert Lea and called police, the documents continue.

Police radioed a description of the car and the two men, after which a Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputy saw a vehicle matching the description on U.S. Highway 69, south of Albert Lea.

Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped the car with the help of Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office deputies after it crossed into Iowa.

One of the young women reportedly had $1,400 cash in her purse, along with a suitcase that were stolen. The other women stated she had $800 in cash taken, along with a purse, suitcase and cell phone.

Leuning ordered that each man be held on a bail of $10,000 with conditions and $40,000 without conditions.

Conditions included obeying the law, signing a waiver of extradition and checking in with Freeborn County Court Services two times a week.

Their next hearing is slated for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 21.