The Deets

While the quality of this camera phone picture sucks, you’ll have to take my word for it that the view from the top of Fairview Park in North Minneapolis is impressive. To get there by car, go West on Broadway from 94, then take a right in Lyndale. It’s around 1/2 a mile North on the right starting at 26th Ave N.

I was standing just about where the “r” in Park was when I took this at around 10am on Labor Day.

Just behind me, where the “e” in Fairview is, a couple was trying to have sex at the time. The guy didn’t like the the fact and I was trying to enjoy the same park as him for different reasons, so he made a threatening motion toward me that I understood to mean, “kind sir, could you please give me and my whore some privacy?” I complied, then called 911 before this pent up dude went off on someone else trying to enjoy the park for the panoramic rather than pornographic views.

Sorry dude. You’re rights end where mine begin.

This is pretty pathetic. The StarTribune reports that a real estate agent in Minnetonka, Charles Lindsey with Realtech (now no longer licensed), was abusing his professional access to for-sale homes to raid medicine cabinets for pain killer medications.

He and his wife Mary appear to be partners in real estate.

They explain on their website (with a slight edit on my part):

Natives of the Twin Cities, they have complete knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses medicine cabinets of the West suburbs, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Edina, Deephaven and Shorewood and the Southwestern suburbs of Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Prairie and the West Bloomington and the areas South of the Minnesota River, i.e., Burnsville, Apple Valley or Eagan and the East suburbs of Woodbury including the city of Minneapolis.

Charlie, I hope you find the help you need to get off the pills.

A case of pizza blogging gone bad?

1st Av/4th St: Officers received info that man wearing yellow t-shirt was brandishing handgun in parking lot pizza restaurant; officers tracked down suspect’s vehicle, found his ID, silver handgun in plain view on seat, gun recovered
CID investigating

Running: A green alternative to ambulances after getting shot:

400 blk 3rd Av N: Officers called to double shooting in parking lot behind night club; victim who is known gang member, ran to HCMC; second victim arrived at Regents Hosp
CID investigating

You’re pretty much screwed if the stolen cell phone in your pocket rings when an officer calls the stolen phone’s number. Will he get the book thrown at him for the taking the soft drink?

2600 blk Colfax: Homeowner outside doing yard work when suspect entered rear of her house; suspect took soft drink, cell phone, cash; victim spotted him in back yard, called 911; while initial officer took report, another located suspect; in addition to being IDed by victim, suspect was carrying cell phone which rang when the officer called the victim’s phone number; suspect had other items from victim; Arrested/ BURGLARY (4th arrest in Mpls)
Precinct investigating

I’ve had some questions about what gang tags mean following this post on graffiti removal.

Conveniently, Entropic Memes has put together a 2-post series on Deciphering Gang Graffiti. Check it out.

How many times do I have to tell you people to stop lighting farts when in sewers:

8th/Hennepin Avs: Officer discovered street sewer cover had blown off, on fire caused by underground explosion, fire was visible above street; Fire Dept responded, took control of scene, Excel Energy, officers provided traffic control

Loud car stereos are nuthin’ but trouble:

2600 blk Logan Av N: Officer attempted to stop car for extremely loud music; as officer approached, driver fled in car; after short pursuit, driver stopped car on walk between houses, hit fence, fled on foot, but was caught at 26th/Logan; gun reported stolen in St Paul recovered, 2nd handgun, bullet proof vest: Arrested/WEAPON (suspect with 50 previous arrest records) CID investigating

Calling the cops on street level drug dealing pays off in North:

3600 blk Fremont Av N: Officers responded to complaint involving drug selling; locate people matching descriptions, recover handgun, ski mask, gloves in suspect’s possession; cocaine, 110 grams marijuana also recovered: 4 Arrested/ WEAPON/NARCOTICS (all suspects in their 20 with between 24-58 previous arrest records) CID investigating

Another reason to avoid the Warehouse District clubs:

1st Av/ 4th St N: Officers attempted to break up fight at nightclub; arrested person, off-duty bouncer for club, who was celebrating his birthday; he punched an officer in back of head; as officers were trying to take arrestee out of crowd, another officer grabbed by shirt collar by an on-duty bouncer, in attempt to pull officer away from off-duty bouncer: 2 Arrested/ASSUALT/
OSTRUCTING LEGAL PROCESS
CID investigating

The Bridge has published minutes from last night’s Longfellow Community Council meeting, where it was mentioned that the closed Howe school on 38th St E is attracting some evil doers:

Longfellow Community Council, 5/22 board meeting

HOWE PLAYGROUND MAGNET FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY: Taskforce member Bernadette Ammon lives right across from the unused Howe School playground. Since the school closed about four years ago, Ammon told the board the playground has become “a festering ground of criminal activity.” “We are asking that the playground be removed so that we can live our lives,” said Ammon.

Ammon told the board that she has spoken to the School Board and Ward 12 Council Member Sandra Colvin Roy to no avail. “If it takes another two to three years to get the reuse project done, we won’t have a viable neighborhood left,” she stated. Ammon and her neighbors call the police almost nightly. “The police don’t come when you call. And this was ‘shots fired’. And they didn’t come.”

Could better lighting solve this? It sounds like the playground isn’t an issue during daylight hours, so turn night into day.

Would you take a fist to the face to protect the daily deposit?

1900 Marshall St NE: Employee walking to car on way to bank to deposit company money; 2 suspects wearing ski masks pulled up to victim’s car, punched victim in face, but did succeed in taking cash; suspects fled in vehicle
CID investigating

It sounds like the crowd from the now-closed Johnny A’s 200 Club may have found a new home:

26th/Penn; Broadway/2nd St; Broadway/James; 22nd; Lyndale: Broadway Beat, Middle Watch Officers conducted detail at bar; recovered 69 rocks crack cocaine, 8 g cocaine, 3 bottles PCP/WET, 24 bags marijuana; made several arrests; 9 Arrested/
NARCOTICS; 3 Arrested/Loiter with Intent to Sell Narcotics; 1 Loiter with Intent to Buy Narcotics; 1 Trespass; 1 misdemeanor warrant, 2 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 1 Loud Music in Motor Vehicle; 1 Driving after Revocation, no Insurance;
CID investigating

Conflicting stories from victims? This is one of the challenges of being involved in crime. If you get ripped off or shot, you can’t exactly go to the cops.

4700 blk Cedar Av S: Officers responded to shooting at gas station; 2 victims shot while inside their car; conflicting stories from victims; 1 had bullet near his heart but was talking, stable; 2 guns involved; 2nd victim had minor wounds
CID investigating

If these guys were smart, they would have made their getaways on bikes rather than the bus. It’s faster, and a greener way to commit crimes.

4th Av S/Lake St E: Officers responded to Person with Weapon call; caller reported suspects robbing people, then fleeing on bus; officers stopped 3 juveniles, 1 with gun, others with knives all transported to Juvenile Center: 1 Arrested/WEAPON
CID investigating

A citizen’s arrest of a drive-by panty-hoser!

Irving Av S/Mount Curve: Officers dispatched to indecent exposure call; suspect exposing himself while in car; caller provided description, plate; officers located car; suspect, wearing only pantyhose, identified by caller; citizen’s arrest signed; suspect resides in 2800 blk Irving Av S: Arrested/ INDECENT EXPOSURE
CID investigating

It must be tough to find good locations for gang conventions. I imagine the Minneapolis Conventions and Visitors Bureau isn’t much help:

18th/Morgan Avs N: CRT officer received info from Confidential Informant regarding meeting between gang members at North Commons Park, 1 person carrying gun; responded with Gang Strike Force officers; recovered loaded 9mm handgun reported stolen in St. Paul: Arrested/ WEAPON (14-yr-old with extensive arrest record)
CID investigating

Do K9’s with strong religious convictions bite harder when they catch church burglars?

3000 blk 13th Av S K9: Team responded to burglary in progress in 3000 blk 13th Av S, suspect fled from church as officers arrived, was apprehended by K9

The Minneapolis Mirror has an incredible first-person recollection of a robbery last Saturday in the parking lot of the Cub Foods on E Lake St. Here’s a sample:

mplsmirror.com - The Robbery

As she spoke Spanish through sobs, I noticed that we were surrounding a heavy-duty pocketknife lying on the ground watching raindrops bouncing off the shiny metal as it lay there. Through her sobs, she revealed that it belonged to the attacker. Like CSI’s Detective Bonasera, I secured the crime scene and told everyone not to touch it.

As we all stood in the rain, the gentleman who had called the police, interpreted for her. She explained how two Latino males had pulled up in a vehicle and the passenger had jumped out and pulled a gun on her, demanding her purse. He threaten to kill her if she didn’t surrender the purse as her young son must have watched and listened in horror. She confessed that she didn’t want to give it up so easily; all the money she had earned was in that purse. Money for her children and her car keys were in that bag. She motioned that he put the gun to her neck as he yanked the purse from her. Then he jumped back in the vehicle and sped out of the parking lot. My son confirmed her recollection.

via Erica M @ Metblogs

The opposite of a drive by:

6th/Cedar Av: Approx 9:15 pm, man shot while driving near intersection; he drove short distance after being shot, crashed into unoccupied parked car; another man was seated in car with victim when shooting occurred; victim died at scene according to attending paramedics
CID investigating

Another sniper:

1400 blk E Franklin Av: During midday shift change officers received report of shooting on roof; caller said he’d been shot by someone who was still on roof; officers called on several squads to assist in closing street to traffic, setting up patrol rifle perimeter; officers observed man hanging from edge of roof on NW corner of building then make his way down side of building; officers took him into custody; suspect appeared to have been under influence of narcotics, frothing from mouth; suspect transported to HCMC: Crisis Intervention

I can understand noticing a car driving without lights, but did they really notice two different plates before pulling the car over?

12th St/ Currie Av: Officers observed car with 2 different license plates, driving at night without headlights; officers conducted traffic stop, recovered semi-automatic handgun, crossbow with scope, large amount crack cocaine, other narcotics (some of which packaged for sale) $57K cash in plastic bag; follow-up search warrant of vehicle yielded $100, jewelry, quantity of oxycodone, codeine: Arrested/ NARCOTICS
CID investigating

Kenwood Parkway: where neighbors really do watch:

1000 blk Kenwood Pkwy: 2 suspects seen entering, leaving residence; officers tracked 5 suspects to 500 blk Queen Av N; 2 have been charged :5 Arrested/ BURGLARY
CID investigating