Five people are in jail facing charges after suspects pulled a gun on a pregnant woman and her mother Monday in Bemidji. The stickup was a case of mistaken identity, authorities said.

The women were leaving for work about 4:30 a.m. when three men, one armed with a handgun, approached them and demanded money. The men targeted the women because they were driving a dark-colored SUV similar to one driven by a person who had cheated them in a drug deal, Chief Deputy Ernie Beitel of the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office said in his report.

The suspects spotted the car and followed it to a residence on the city's west side where the daughter was picking up her mother. Three men got out and brandished a handgun as they confronted the women, but soon realized they were mistaken, Beitel said. The men returned to their vehicle with two others inside and took off.

Authorities spotted the suspects' car shortly afterward and made a traffic stop.

All five people in the suspect's car were arrested. They include 23-year-old woman driving the car, the three men ranging in age from 23 to 28 and one other person. All are from Bemidji.

Authorities also recovered two replica handguns and illegal narcotics that were identified as methamphetamine.

All five are in the Beltrami County jail and face charges that include attempted aggravated robbery and aiding and abetting attempted aggravated robbery.

No one was injured during the incident, but the daughter was later transported by Bemidji Ambulance for complications, possibly related to her pregnancy, Beitel said.

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768