Arrest in Carjacking of Bismarck Tribune Delivery Person

Police Monday charged Matthew Tschaekofske, 25, of Bismarck with carjacking a Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune employee and robbing a convenience store.

Bond was set at $50,000 cash and Tschaekofske was prohibited from contacting the alleged victims, who were both unhurt. But because the suspect is alleged to have used a gun in each case, the two felonies carry mandatory minimum four-year sentences, Tribune reporter Jenny Michael notes in her account.

Tschaekofske is accused of ordering the driver from his car at gunpoint at about 3:45 Saturday morning. About 15 minutes later the driver called police from a gas station, while a clerk at another gas station called in a robbery in progress. The suspect's description in the cases matched.

Citing court documents, Michael reports Tschaekofske is on probation for February convictions for terrorizing, simple assault, preventing arrest or discharge of other duties and possession of drug paraphernalia, and that he completed electronic monitoring in April.