Minneapolis Quagmire Deepens, McManus To Flee?

It's unclear whether the latest Minneapolis homicide is connected to the bullet-riddled vehicle from the previous post. The timing is certainly suspicious.

The Red Star reports on the latest Minneapolis murder (please update your tally, KvM): "Man, shot to death, found on Minneapolis sidewalk".

A gunshot apparently killed [sic] man found on a north Minneapolis sidewalk Wednesday night, police said.

Minneapolis Police Capt. Rich Stanek said witnesses told police that the victim was pulled from a car by several other people, but police were unsure whether he was shot inside or outside of the vehicle. Officers were called to Emerson Avenue N. between Lowry and 33rd Avenues N. at about 8 p.m. by witnesses who said there was a body in the street.

The suspects are on the loose.

Meanwhile, seeing the writing on the wall, Minneapolis Police Chief William McManus is looking for another job, as reported by WCCO News: "Mpls. Police Chief Finalist In TX Chief Position".

(WCCO) Minneapolis Police Chief William McManus is a finalist for the police chief position in San Antonio, Texas, WCCO-TV learned Wednesday night.

McManus has nearly a year left on his contract in Minneapolis. The contract is set to expire in February 2007. He's been with the city for two years.

McManus came here after being police chief in Dayton, Ohio for two years. Before that, he was a police officer in Washington D.C. for 27 years.

There is speculation McManus would shop for a job because the mayor has not publicly offered him a new contract. Mayor R.T. Rybak is expected to comment on the situation Thursday.

When you've got a January to June 2005 violent crime increase on your watch, it's tough to negotiate that next contract.

Now I don't want to be too hard on Chief McManus. He didn't know what he was getting into when he stepped into the Quagmire. I don't have any reason to believe he wanted Minneapolis to have earned its reputation for violence any more than anyone else. He's simply been a cipher. He's low-profile, guarded, and too tolerant of the nattering activists who are constantly nipping at his heels.

When your city Mayor is busy with "weaving", and the City Council is more concerned with car allowances than crime, it's no wonder he's leaving.

McManus probably can't wait to leave.

Can the Minneapolis power structure do anything right?

In the meantime, St. Paul is having its own Bonnie and Clyde adventure: "One dead, one arrested after drive-by shooting in St. Paul".

St. Paul police have arrested one man following a drive-by shooting that left another man dead on his neighbor's doorsteps.

Police told reporters at the scene that the victim was driving his white Toyota about 2 a.m. near the intersection of Hoyt Avenue and Clarence Street when a man inside another car pulled along side the Toyota and opened fire with an assault rifle.

The man in the suspect vehicle then drove away. The victim's car, riddled with bullets, remained at the scene for hours this morning as authorities investigated.

Hang on to your hats, folks, it's not even springtime yet.