Feds Accuse Men Of Carjacking Woman, 67, In Rosedale Mall Parking Lot

MINNEAPOLIS — Two men face federal charges in the armed carjacking of a 67-year-old woman at the Rosedale Center Mall parking lot.

Leon K. Bell, 48, was charged with one count of carjacking. Jack M. Piche, 22, was charged with aiding and abetting carjacking. Both men remain in federal custody and have made their initial court appearances.

According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 16, the two men were walking around the parking lot when they began following a vehicle, waiting for the driver to park, police said.

Surveillance video showed Bell and Piche approach the woman as she was standing outside her vehicle, investigators said. Bell showed her a gun in his waistband and demanded her keys, according to the criminal complaint.

The woman gave Bell her purse, which had her wallet and keys, and ran from the vehicle, police said.

Bell and Piche fled the lot in her car, according to authorities. Officers with the Roseville Police Department followed the vehicle south on Interstate 35W, the criminal complaint states.

However, the vehicle was driving erratically and, due to safety concerns, officers stopped their pursuit, investigators said.

An investigation later led police to a location in south Minneapolis, where they arrested Piche. Officers found the stolen vehicle a few blocks away, police said.

Police arrested Bell on May 3.

Piche and Bell have been ordered to remain detained pending a formal detention hearing.