Police Arrest 1 of 2 Men Sought in Assault, Robbery, Imprisonment

One of two men whom police say assaulted and robbed a Burnsville man last month has been arrested.  

Joseph John Rousseau, 29, is in custody in the Dakota County Jail after his arrest April 26.

Rousseau is charged with three felonies: first-degree aggravated robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $35,000 fine; second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, which has a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine; and false imprisonment/intentional restraint, which has a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. 

Rousseau is scheduled to make a first appearance on the charges Monday in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.

Authorities are still seeking Robin John Peterson, 51, in connection with the March 5 incident. 

Police say Peterson made arrangements to meet the victim after they met through a telephone dating service. When Peterson arrived at the victim’s home, Peterson tried to get him to perform a sexual act, according to the complaint.

When the victim refused, Peterson pinned the man to the ground, holding a knife to his throat and then ransacking his belongings, the complaint charges. He also threatened to kill him if he told police or anyone else about the assault, police say.

Peterson called Rousseau and asked him to come to the victim’s apartment, where Rousseau hit the victim on the head and then wrapped tape around his head to prevent him from looking at him, according to the complaint.

The two men are accused of stealing the victim’s television and his wallet, then using his credit card more than a dozen times, including attempting fraudulent transactions at Mystic Lake Casino.