Brooklyn Center Police Arrest Man for Punching, Robbing Women

It’s a case Brooklyn Center police say they rarely see: three robberies in a 12-hour span — all by the same suspect. The robberies happened within walking distance of each other. And in each of these cases, all the women victims were punched.

“It’s very rare that someone keeps doing it,” said Cmdr. Rick Gabler of the Brooklyn Center Police Department.

The cases occurred last week. The first happened Thursday, June 28, at 6 p.m. at T.J. Maxx. Then Friday morning, June 29, a similar instance happened at 10:30 a.m. at the nearby Walmart. Just a half hour later, it happened again at Cub Foods.

Police say all of the cases are connected to Willie Parks, 54, of St. Paul. Parks is charged with three counts of first-degree aggravated robbery.

License Plate Helps Brooklyn Center Police Nab Suspect

According to Brooklyn Center police, in the first instance, Parks punched a woman in the face as she was getting into her car near the T.J. Maxx. The suspect stole $100 in cash and ran away. The victim suffered an injury to her face.

The next morning, police say Parks punched another woman outside Walmart as she was getting into her car. The criminal complaint says Parks tried to grab the woman’s purse. He then grabbed the woman’s hand and attempted steal the woman’s wedding band, the complaint said. The victim was able to fight him off by gouging the suspect’s eyes. That victim also suffered injuries to her face and was treated at North Memorial Health Hospital.

A half hour later, police say Parks struck again, this time at the Brooklyn Center Cub Foods. The criminal complaint says Parks punched a woman entering her car, stealing her purse and cell phone. Parks fled in a vehicle, but witnesses were able to get a license plate.

Two hours later, detectives found Parks in that same vehicle in north Minneapolis. They also recovered items stolen from the women.

Police say Parks also is likely connected to a similar case in Minneapolis. According to court records, Parks has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple convictions of criminal sexual conduct.

Brooklyn Center