Minneapolis records the 7th murder in and around homeless encampments in 10 months
This past weekend three people were fatally shot, and three others were wounded in two separate shooting incidents at south Minneapolis homeless encampments. These murders bring the total to seven fatal shootings in and around south Minneapolis homeless encampments in the past ten months. Add to these totals, numerous non-fatal shootings, stabbings, the discovery of stillborn babies, fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses, untold human trafficking incidents, robberies, thefts, burglaries, arson fires – the list goes on and on.
After the most recent murders, a young Native American female who has wound up living in the encampments was quoted by the Star Tribune as saying “It’s sad because we’re all young fighting through this … and it’s so hard to be out here like this. It just puts more stress … we’re all [expletive] dying out here. We really need our government to do something for us. We can’t keep living life like this.”
Three important facts have emerged regarding the south Minneapolis homeless encampment crisis: 1) The crisis is not the result of a lack of shelter or housing, but rather an under-addressed fentanyl drug problem. 2) The encampments have been taken over and are now run by criminal gangs profiting from the lawless environment encampments represent which allow for unrestrained use and distribution of fentanyl and the tragic proliferation of human trafficking involving an extremely vulnerable population. 3) The policy adopted and supported by the City Council that enables encampments to exist without being disbanded, has failed encampment inhabitants, area residents and businesses, and broader Minnesota which travels, works and recreates in Minneapolis. The city’s response to the encampment crisis has been dreadful.
In a related story – the St. Paul Police Department officer involved shooting on Monday evening at Snelling and University, involved the suspect from the most recent Minneapolis homeless encampment murders.
Federal civil suit against Trooper Ryan Londregan dismissed
The legal battles against Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan appear to be over with yesterday’s dismissal of a federal civil lawsuit.
Londregan fatally shot Ricky Cobb II in July 2023 when Cobb refused to cooperate with a lawful felony arrest and attempted to drive off while Londregan and another trooper were partially in Cobb’s car attempting to physically remove him. Cobb’s actions placed the troopers in fear of injury or death as the events played out on a busy metro interstate at 2 am. Both troopers were thrown to the pavement as Cobb sped away before crashing and dying a short distance away. A subsequent search of Cobb’s car revealed a loaded handgun on the floorboard within reach of Cobb during the incident. The presence of the gun undoubtedly played a part in Cobb’s refusal to cooperate – in fact it was extremely unlikely that Cobb would have ever cooperated that night, no matter how long the troopers asked him to surrender.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty had originally charged Trooper Londregan with murder, but ended up dropping all criminal charges earlier this year after a vigorous defense highlighted that a series of force experts had concluded Londregan’s use of force was justified.
The Cobb family filed a federal civil lawsuit against Trooper Londregan in April 2024, asserting claims of unreasonable seizure and use of excessive force. Londregan’s defense filed a pretrial motion with US District Court Judge Nancy Brasel, arguing the case against Londregan should be dismissed. Yesterday, Judge Brasel agreed with the defense arguments and dismissed the case against Londregan.
In coming to the conclusion she did, Judge Brasel commented on Cobb’s actions and how they contributed to the outcome. This is a fact that deserves more attention in society as nearly every fatal use of force by police would be prevented if people cooperated and complied with the police. The theme is part of a nationwide public awareness campaign by the National Police Association: Comply Now, Complain Later.
Minneapolis Police Department faces scrutiny in case involving a near fatal neighbor dispute
John Sawchak, a man with mental illness living near 35th and Grand Ave So in Minneapolis has been harassing and threatening neighbors for months. His immediate neighbor reportedly made more than 15 reports of harassment and assaultive behavior to MPD. Reportedly, Sawchak has also been deemed mentally ill and dangerous by the court. Despite these reports and behavior law enforcement had been unable to make contact with or arrest Sawchak in recent months – citing his recluse lifestyle and the fact he doesn’t come outside his house.
Last Wednesday, Sawchak’s neighbor began cutting a tree down in the front yards of the two houses. Sawchak had reportedly planted the tree with his mother years ago and threatened to shoot the neighbor if he ever cut it down. While cutting the tree, video captured the neighbor falling to the ground. The neighbor was transported to the hospital by ambulance, with what was believed to have been a heart attack. The emergency room doctors determined he had been shot. Minneapolis police were then called, and they gathered facts leading to attempted murder charges being filed against Sawchak.
A firestorm of criticism then befell MPD, when they didn’t immediately storm Sawchak’s home to arrest him. The situation became more problematic when members of the Minneapolis City Council went public with complaints suggesting the MPD had failed to act against Sawchak because he was white, and the neighbor was black. Chief O’Hara gave a press conference in which he explained that his department was working with Sawchak’s family and employing covert surveillance in an attempt to peacefully arrest Sawchak.
On early Monday morning, after exhausting all other options, MPD conducted a high-risk entry using their SWAT team and arrested Sawchak in his home. Chief O’Hara has since ordered a review of his department’s handling of the situation. To his credit, the Chief’s position is “…the presence of hard work is not enough when we are all working to build a better department. We must continually review our actions to ensure we are doing and being our best. Under my leadership, we will be a learning organization.”
US Attorney’s Office deals another blow to Minneapolis street gangs
The US Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Andrew Lugar, announced this week that his office had obtained indictments against eleven (11) Minneapolis members of the violent “Lows” street gang based in lower North Minneapolis. Charges included conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, gun trafficking, and drug trafficking.
The charges involved the famed Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations or “RICO” statutes used to take down organized crime like the Italian mob in New York. RICO prosecutions have been extremely successful in obliterating violent criminal organizations, and Lugar’s willingness to use RICO to take down some of Minneapolis’s most violent gangs has been a welcome development and has tangible impact on our public safety.
According to the US Attorney’s Office press release:
“If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy involving acts of murder, using a firearm to commit murder, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after the consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS-CI, HSI, USPIS, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.”
4 ½ years after riots destroyed the Minneapolis 3rd Precinct, the city takes steps remove the blight
Earlier this month, Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance held a press conference in front of the burned out and fenced hull of the former Minneapolis Police 3rd Precinct. Vance highlighted the burned precinct as an example of failed progressive policy that led to the precinct being firebombed, and which has also led to the city failing to promptly repair and re-occupy the building.
Sadly, the burned-out precinct has sat vacant as a sort of trophy for progressive activism – for over four years.
Vance’s visit may have been the catalyst for actual progress. This week contractors began removing the barbed wire fencing and cement blocks that have surrounded the 3rd pct for years. The city announced that work had been ongoing throughout the summer to properly secure the building, and that plans to turn the site into a “Democracy Center” were in play.
The officers that patrol the city’s 3rd precinct have been based out of downtown since the old building was burned. Plans call for a new 3rd precinct headquarters to be based a few blocks north of the old building on Minnehaha Ave.
The handling of the 3rd precinct building has been an embarrassment for the city and for our state – though the embarrassment seems lost on many of those on the Minneapolis City Council who have obstructed progress towards reinhabiting the old building and re-opening a new precinct.