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The charges against Ali Sid Abdilahi, 31, were dismissed on July 25.
Phil Carruthers, head of the criminal division of the Ramsey County attorney’s office, said “there were some credibility issues with the victim.”
However, he said the girl had not recanted her story.
The suspect’s attorney, Paul Edlund, said his client was driving and stopped to help a young girl who was bleeding and upset. He offered to drive her to a hospital.
She declined, saying her boyfriend beat her up and she was afraid she’d get in trouble with her mother. Abdilahi dropped her off with a little money, then left.
Two days later, on April 3, he was charged. The girl told police that Abdilahi and another man had tried to drag her into their car and rape her, but she fought them off.
She claimed the car started driving as she held onto the side mirror and was dragged along the pavement. Police said she had the injuries and ripped clothes to prove it.
The girl also provided police with a partial license plate and a description of Abdilahi, including one telling detail, that he was wearing tennis shoes with a blue stripe.
Bail for Abdilahi was set at $75,000, and his mug shot was appeared in newspapers and on TV.
Edlund said he was doubtful about the story from the beginning. For one thing, the girl’s claim she could see his client’s shoes just didn’t make sense, he said.
He and his investigator took Abdilahi to the police impound lot to see the car. They wanted to know if someone could see the driver’s shoes from outside the car. Edlund said it was an older model with a full console between the driver’s and passenger’s seats.
“She certainly could hang onto a mirror,” he said, “but you cannot see anyone’s shoes from outside the vehicle.”
He said, “It’s a case that should have never gone this far.”
Edlund said spending fourth months under suspicion took it’s tool on Abdilahi, his wife and their two young children. He hasn’t been able to find work and he had to pay bail money with the help of his extended family.
They haven’t been able get the car out of the impound lot, because it would cost $1,000 in tow fees and storage costs.
Even worse was living with the accusation itself, Edlund said.
When Edlund said he gave Abdilahi the news the charges were dropped, he was “elated.”
But the experience has taught him a sad lesson. “He said, ’Paul, I’m not going to stop and try to help somebody ever again,“’ Edlund said.
