The March Of Minneapolis Violence Spills Into April

In a normal time and place, crime would take a break to some extent over the winter, then pick up in the spring.

That isn't the case with Minneapolis. The wave of robberies in the fall diminished for a brief period, then resumed with ferocity as the holidays approached. The violence in the city wasn't mitigated by the weather, and the mild winter probably exacerbated that.

So that left Minneapolis with a crime saturated winter rushing headlong into the warmer months, where disorder would be expected to increase. That's a recipe for disaster. We're already seeing evidence of what is to come, particularly with the recent very high profile violent crimes.

Sometimes the high profile events can overshadow the "everyday" Minneapolis violence. From various Minneapolis Police Department SAFE Unit dispatches:

4/3/06 SAFE Unit

On Sunday April 2 at 10pm, a robbery occurred on the 5500 block of Nicollet Ave S. The victim had just driven into her driveway and was exiting her vehicle when she was approached by the suspect demanding the victims purse. The suspect had a gun as he threatened the victim. The victim gave him the purse and the suspect then fled on foot south on Nicollet. The suspect is described as a black male, 20-30 years old, 5'6"-5'8" tall, medium build, and wore a navy blue sweatshirt with a hood.

4/3/06 SAFE Unit

On March 21, 2006 at about 8:35 pm, a 53 year old female Lyndale resident was Robbed/car jacked on her block. Force was used and the suspect then took her car. This was on the 34xx block of Pleasant Av S.

On March 23, 2006 at about 2:35 am, Officers’ Reynolds and Hoff saw a car near 47th and Harriet Av S. They were simultaneously flagged down by a person saying they had been robbed. The victim said that a car had rear-ended his.

When the parties got out to exchange information, the suspect (LaMont Tarrence McGee) grabbed the victims wallet and left the scene. Officers’ Reynolds and Hoff found the vehicle and it fled. While fleeing the vehicle crashed on the 33xx block of Grand Av S. The occupant got out and ran on foot. McGee was arrested later while hiding. McGee was arrested for Flee Police, Theft From Person, Hit and Run no injury and Driving After Revocation.

The vehicle McGee was driving during the above incident, was the vehicle taken in the carjacking on 34xx Pleasant Av S.
...

5th Precinct Officers Reynolds and Hoff did an outstanding job.

That's a very nice part of town, by the way. Or at least used to be.

Great job by the two officers.