Suspect's 'tip' in knifepoint holdup of Minneapolis cabbies leads to arrest

A suspect was arrested Wednesday morning in the knifepoint robberies of five cabdrivers last week in Minneapolis and charged in the first holdup thanks to a tip — investigatory and not monetary — that he unwittingly left behind, authorities said.

Tonio J. Weaver, 22, of Minneapolis, was arrested at a home in the 5100 block of Knox Avenue N. in Minneapolis, police said.

He remains held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Within a roughly 50-hour period, Weaver is suspected of robbing:

• A Red and White cabdriver on June 18 at 4:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of E. 26th Street.

• A Blue and White cabdriver on June 19 at 3:15 p.m. in the 2600 block of Cedar Avenue S.

• A New Star Taxi cabdriver on June 19 at 4:30 p.m. at 52nd and Knox Avenues N.

• A Red and White cabdriver on June 20 at 7:15 a.m. in the 2000 block of E. 28th Street.

According to the criminal complaint filed in the first robbery:

Weaver got in the cab at a Cub Foods store. The driver noticed Weaver handling a Gatorade bottle. Soon after, once the cab stopped in the 1800 block of E. 26th Street, Weaver said, "I don't want to hurt you. Give me all your money." He robbed the driver of $45 and fled.

Officers recovered the bottle from the back seat, and numerous fingerprints on it led investigators to Weaver and the subsequent filing of a first-degree aggravated robbery charge.

Since August 2009, Weaver has been booked at least six times in Hennepin County.