Two charged after Red Wing robbery

A Red Wing pair has been charged with first-degree aggravated robbery after a man was robbed at knife point near the Parkway Motel, 3425 Highway 61, Tuesday evening.

Curtis Eugene Venzant, 30, and Jennifer Nicole Staten, 32, whose residence is listed as 3425 Highway 61, were being held in Goodhue County Jail as of Friday afternoon. Bail for each of them has been set at $100,000.

Formal first-degree aggravated robbery charges were filed Thursday in Goodhue County District Court.

Venzant is also facing second-degree assault, terroristic threats, fifth-degree possession of drugs and interfering with a 911 call charges. Staten is also facing second-degree aggravated robbery and fifth-degree possession of drugs charges.

Red Wing police were dispatched to the area near the Parkway Motel at 6:02 p.m. after a 911 hang-up call.

Police subsequently located Michael Hughes near the hotel, who told police he had been robbed at knifepoint.

According to court complaints, Hughes was waiting in the back seat of a vehicle parked outside of the hotel when Venzant got into the car with him. A second man, who has not been charged, punched Hughes in the face while Venzant demanded $250 from him.

Venzant then pulled out a knife with a 7-to-8-inch blade and held it against Hughes’ neck, the complaint says. Hughes called 911, but Venzant took the phone from him.

Hughes told police that Venzant was looking at him with “crazy eyes,” was making “stabbing motions” and that he thought Venzant “was going to slit my throat.”

Hughes was eventually able to get out of the vehicle, but said Venzant had taken about $230 from him during the incident.

Police later found Staten and Venzant hiding in a hotel room. They recovered a knife near where Venzant was hiding, as well as about $50 in Venzant’s pants. They found an additional $180 in Staten’s pockets.

Both Venzant and Staten were arrested at the scene. They will make first appearances in Goodhue County District Court Feb. 3.

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