Under Siege In Northeast Minneapolis

KSTP Eyewitness News reports more brazen armed robberies in Northeast Minneapolis. You may recall this recent post about an elderly man getting beaten and robbed in his own Northeast home by a group of criminals. The violence appears to be worse than initial reports would suggest: "Armed robbers strike northeast Minneapolis".

The suspects in an armed robbery at a northeast Minneapolis party may have been responsible for other crimes.

The robbery happened to a group of friends who were gathered on a quiet street in front of Joe Stromberg’s house.

Stromberg says two men approached him and put a gun to his head.

"They just came up, ‘Where is your money? Where is your money? Give us your money!" he says.

He says the suspects demanded money from every one in the group and moved on after getting a wallet and an ATM card.

Another woman, who requests to remain anonymous, says she was sitting in a truck parked nearby when the same suspects approached her.

"The next thing I know there's someone with a gun pointed right at me," she says.

Residents feel abandoned by the police:

Police say crime in the area has increased, and neighbors say there has been more graffiti and car break-ins.

Neighborhood resident Maura Trout says an armed robbery is disturbing.

"We feel a little bit abandoned by the police department since they had all of the budget cuts,” she says.

I would suggest that budget cuts are not responsible. Poor resource allocation is the culprit, and you can take your concerns straight to the mayor and the city council.

I thought the Guardian Angels were in deployment in Northeast. If not, they're needed.

Incredible Story Of Self-Defense

This post is non-Minnesota related, but what an inspiring story of self-defense. This could prove instructive to those that live, work, and play in Minneapolis. Don't let yourself become another Michael Zebuhr.

[Hat tip to Casual Reader from Anti-Strib.]

Ex-Marine Apologizes For Killing Robbery Suspect

ATLANTA -- A former Marine cook was acting in fear of his life and will not face charges for fatally stabbing one teenager and wounding a second while fending off a robbery in Midtown Atlanta by a group of youths armed with two guns and a pair of brass knuckles.

Police spokeswoman Sylvia Abernathy says 36-year-old Thomas Autry acted in self-defense when the suspects jumped him Monday night and he struck back with a pocket knife he had.

The girl he stabbed, 17-year-old Amy Martin, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The accomplice who was wounded, 17-year-old Christopher Daniel, was listed in critical condition at Atlanta Medical Center yesterday afternoon.

Daniel and three other youths involved in the robbery, a 16-year-old and 17-year-olds Kendall Barksdale and Christopher Hayes, were charged with aggravated assault and armed robbery.

The day after the attack, Autry returned to his girlfriend's apartment, where he had the locks changed. He told Channel 2 Action News he doesn't feel like a hero.

"I was just trying to protect myself. I'm sorry," he said.

Autry, who was stationed in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War, says he tried to flee his attackers but they caught him and one of them pointed a gun at him.

Autry began running down the street yelling for help. Residents who heard him called 911. While he was running, Autry pulled a pocket knife from his backpack.

Two of the robbers jumped from the car. When one of the robbers pointed a shotgun at him, the Autry kicked it out of his hands.

At that point two of the robbers jumped on the victim. During the struggle he stabbed both Martin and Daniel. Martin died of her wounds.

The current culture demands that we defend ourselves from street thugs, criminal vermin, and predators of all types. It doesn't hurt to have been trained by the USMC, but for the time being regular citizens still have resources available to enhance their self-defense capabilities. Take advantage of those rights.

Don't be a victim.

[There is a discussion on this matter in a car forum, again on a tip from Casual Reader, here.]

Culture Of Crime - Burglars hit Minneapolis

Yes, summer traditionally brings more burglaries in urban environments, but one per day in one little neighborhood? Why do criminals feel so free to ply their trade in Minneapolis?

KSTP Eyewitness News reports: "Burglars target Minneapolis neighborhood".

Residents of a Minneapolis neighborhood remain nervous after a series of burglaries during the month of May.

Burglars have broken in to over 12 homes in the Windom Park neighborhood, and when surrounding areas are included, the crimes have averaged nearly one per day.

Minneapolis police have issued a crime alert for the area, instructing residents to take precautions, especially during daylight hours.

And the worst kind of burglaries are the "hot" burglaries, where the homeowner and the criminal occupy the house at the same time. The Windom neighborhood has that too:

One resident actually returned home to find a burglar inside.

"I came home around 11:15 and opened the back door; heard this big loud crash and I knew something wasn't right,” says Perry Boyden.

This homeowner lived, but maybe next time someone gets hurt.

Minneapolitans: Take precautions, and never let your guard down in Minneapolis.

Rambix Reader Challenges Mayor's Office On Crime

How many people can say they've had an execution-style murder in their own backyard while their wife and children were at home and close by?

Rambix reader McGruv (Derek) can, as I wrote about here in early May 2006.

McGruv has been an insightful contributor/commenter to this blog, and a voice of reason regarding the Minneapolis Quagmire and the impotent city leadership. He has recently provided me with a copy of an email exchange he had with one of Minneapolis Mayor Rybak's staff, which I reproduce here:

Rambix,

Below is an email exchange I had with one of Rybak's aides. I think it's funny how he doesn't have much to say after he already used up his canned response. This guy approached me on the mayor's behalf at a vigil for the dead guy in the yard and said I could contact him regarding my concerns. Careful what you ask for I guess.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Patterson, Sherman
[mailto:Sherman.Patterson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us]
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006
1:31 PM
To: Derek****
Subject: RE: Mpls. Crime continues

Derek,

Thanks for the response. I’m sorry about the mix up with your kids. Please feel free to contact me by phone or email at anytime. I will continue to address and work on the issues you have brought forward.

Respectfully
yours,


-----Original Message-----
From:
Derek****[mailto:Derek.****.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 12:08 PM
To: Patterson, Sherman
Cc: Rybak, R.T.; Smith, Tina F.; Dolan, Tim;
Samuels, Don H
Subject: RE: Mpls. Crime continues

My "frustration" with how the Mayor and City Council have handled the crime and gang problem in Minneapolis is not recent or just the result of the murder that happened in my yard last month. Crime has been steadily on the rise for at least the past 2 years. People are getting robbed and assaulted all over town. It is now evident that this city's leadership chose to ignore the problem until public pressure forced them to act. How is it that the Police were so understaffed in the first place? I know that funds have been cut, but doesn't the Mayor think that the Urban Renewal type projects should wait until after the Police are fully staffed and the city is safe?

Pardon my pessimism, but I find it hard to believe that the Safe City Initiative(SCI) is going to get significant results. What follow up will be done after the SCI to keep crime from spinning out of control in the future? What steps are being taken to stem the influx of criminals from other cities that set up shop in Minneapolis? If there's no room for repeat offenders in prison, are you working with the state to make room? I think that the Mayor's answers to these questions would be a better use of everyone's time than a personal visit to my house. And I know I'm not alone, the number of citizens who are victims or witness to this garbage increases everyday.

Thanks for responding to my email. Minneapolis is a great city...when it is safe. Please don't allow negligence to turn it into a place that only criminals want to live in. I sincerely hope that the Mayor and City Council have learned something from all this and that public safety never falls from top priority again.

p.s. For the record, I have a 4 yr old daughter and 18 month old son.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Patterson, Sherman [mailto:Sherman.Patterson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us]
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 1:29 PM
To: Derek****
Cc: Rybak, R.T.;
Smith, Tina F.; Dolan, Tim
Subject: RE: Mpls. Crime continues

Hi
Derek,

It’s good to hear from you. Thanks for the message. Derek, I share your concerns about the crime in your area. Derek I would like to come by your home and talk with you and your family too. Please understand that the Mayor is very concerned about what’s happening with crime throughout the city. He is determined to put a lid on this recent escalation in crime too. We are working around the clock with MPD and other Agencies to make your quality of life better.

Derek, I remember you and your wife with your son, whom I believe is about 3 years old. We understand your frustration, but believe me things will get better. I would like to come next one day next week in the evening. I remembered that you’re not home until 6pm or a little afterwards. Derek hang in there, you guys are not alone. Please send me a date that you’re available. I will work around your schedule.

Sincerely,

-----Original Message-----
From: Derek****[mailto:Derek****.com]
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 9:53 AM
To: Patterson, Sherman;
rt@minneapolis.org; Police
Cc: Samuels, Don H; Johnson, Barbara A; Sue
Jeffers for Governor
Subject: Mpls. Crime continues

Mr. Patterson,

I met you during the prayer vigil in my backyard on Thomas Ave N. for the guy who was murdered there. Just a quick question, people are still being robbed all over town in broad daylight in formally nice neighborhoods. The latest down in Bryn Mawr. We don't have time to wait for the mayor and the police to help us. Don't be surprised if people start taking the law into their own hands. If the mayor is such an incompetent hack that he can't make this plague of brazen criminal activity stop in the city, why doesn't he step down and let someone take charge who will not rest until this trend reverses course?

Derek ****

Derek makes some great points in his May 30th email to Mr. Sherman. The mayor or the mayor's proxy should answer Derek's questions; those that live, work, or play in Minneapolis have a right to know.

What say you, Mayor Rybak? Let's say you can't reasonably answer any and all questions that might come your way from concerned citizens; I would propose that you at least answer questions from all of those in your city who have had execution-style murders in their backyards. They've earned the right to a response.

They Want Your Children

And another reason to have contempt for liberals: few of them believe in good and evil. Behavior propensity is "nuanced", don't you know.

Try reading this story and not believe in evil: "Predators Using Single Moms For Access To Kids".

(WCCO) Enough sexual predators are having relationships with single mothers to gain access to children, that police are saying the trend is reaching epidemic proportions.

This is sick. Really sick.

Keep reading; it's enough to make a 2nd Amendment believer out of even the squishiest liberal:

One sexual offender, who spoke on condition of not being identified, admitted that's the process he used to offend. He requested to be referred to as "Don" in this piece.

"I used the mom to trust me and like me so I could be around the children," he said.

Don is a level 3 sex offender, a level designated for the most likely people to commit another sex crime.

"I groomed her for about six months. I bought her everything she wanted," he said.

Anyone remember Ellie Nessler?

Five years ago, Don was convicted of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old and a 13-year-old girl.

"I got the mother to love me and think I was a great guy, got her to trust me because I was doing all this for her kids," he said.

He then followed by sexually preying on the children.

It didn't happen to single mom Katy Norenberg and her girls, but she can understand how women become victims.

"You're looking for somebody who's nice and is nice to your kids, and you're going 'Yea, I found the perfect person," said Norenberg.

Don said that's just what sex offenders count on.

"If he's paying attention to one child more than another, or if he's paying attention to the child more than he is you ... there's something going on," he said.

Remember, Level 3's are rarely "cured". When a state legislator asks for additional funding for incarceration of high-risk sex-offenders, give him what he wants.

Don and police recommend single moms talk to their children about sexual predators and stress to them they must tell an adult about any behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Also they say to do a criminal background check on the Department of Corrections Web site which lists the state's registered sex offenders.

Here's the Minnesota Level 3 sex "offender" search.

Always be alert; trust, but verify - scratch that: trust no one with your child unless they share your DNA or unless you are certain beyond a reasonable doubt they are worthy of spending time with you and your children.

And keep a large caliber "behavior modification" tool handy, just in case.

St. Paul Murder Near KSTP Studio

KSTP Eyewitness News reports a murder which occurred right outside their building at 3:00 a.m. this morning (5/29/06): "Man shot dead outside KSTP building".

One man was shot dead on a sidewalk outside the KSTP building at University Ave. and Berry St. in St. Paul Monday morning.

The shooting occurred at approximately 3 a.m. about 50 feet north of University on Berry.

A KSTP employee heard multiple shots and has a witness description which, of course, you won't see in the Red Star.

"I just heard gunshots, about six of them,” said the witness, who requests to remain anonymous.

The witness says the two suspects left the scene in a van.

"I saw 2 young black males walk across the parking lot and it look like they got in a white vehicle, the witness said.

A retired police officer who works as a guard at KSTP called 911 and watched the scene.

”I went out and checked on the man and he was obviously DOA,” says Ken Miller.

In fact, even though the witness specifically stated that the suspects were "two young black males", the Red Star has no suspect description: "Man fatally shot in St. Paul early today".

Thanks for that public service, Red Star.

In Memory Of All Veterans Who Have Made The Ultimate Sacrifice

Thank you all veterans for your service, especially those that have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom.

Here's some history of the federal Memorial Day observance; too many forget that it's not just for picnics:

The History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. On May 5, 1868, Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:

The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

During the first celebration of Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery.

This 1868 celebration was inspired by local observances of the day in several towns throughout America that had taken place in the three years since the Civil War. In fact, several Northern and Southern cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Columbus, Miss.; Macon, Ga.; Richmond, Va.; Boalsburg, Pa.; and Carbondale, Ill.

In 1966, the federal government, under the direction of President Lyndon Johnson, declared Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of Memorial Day. They chose Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—because the town had made Memorial Day an annual, community-wide event during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

By the late 1800s, many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day and, after World War I, observances also began to honor those who had died in all of America's wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May. (Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor all veterans, living and dead, is celebrated each year on November 11.)

Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Also, it is customary for the president or vice-president to give a speech honoring the contributions of the dead and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.

Several Southern states continue to set aside a special day for honoring the Confederate dead, which is usually called Confederate Memorial Day:

Mississippi: Last Monday in April
Alabama: Fourth Monday in April
Georgia: April 26
North Carolina: May 10
South Carolina: May 10
Louisiana: June 3
Tennessee (Confederate Decoration Day): June 3
Texas (Confederate Heroes Day): January 19
Virginia: Last Monday in May

Minneapolis Armed Robber Caught On Tape

The latest piece of garbage to score big in a Minneapolis armed robbery was wearing a funny hat, as KSTP Eyewitness News reports. The crime itself was not so amusing: "'Jester' holds up Minneapolis store".

An armed robber wearing a jester hat is caught on tape holding up a convenience store.

Police say the man stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from the Super Fiesta Foods on Nicollet avenue south. The robber walked into the store around noon today and pointed a gun at the heads of customers and the owner.

The man was wearing a green and blue jester hat when he entered the store with a gun.

Unfortunately for the store, the media is reporting the huge take the robber got away with. This will certainly embolden further robberies of that store, or ones like it:

He then pointed a gun at the owner and forced her behind the counter before he took $20,000 in jewelry, the wallets of everyone in the store, and $9,000 in cash that was kept behind the counter. The money was for an international wire service that was set to go to families in Mexico.

Before the robber left the store he congratulated the owner and the customers for surviving, and said everything was now ok. The owner says she wants the man caught, no only because she wants her money back, but now she's too afraid to be alone.

On the TV News version of KSTP's report, the store owner said she was not sure the business would continue.

Take heed, Mayor Rybak. Your city is losing business because of crime. The Minneapolis city leaders and Hennepin County Attorney Klobuchar have really dropped the ball.

Even A Minneapolis Public School Grad Should Understand This Math

From Midwest Jay, via Anti-Strib:


I think we know the answer.

What say you, Mr. Mayor?

Minneapolis - Woman Raped By Stranger

The Minneapolis Police have issued a Crime Alert for a stranger rape near Prospect Park, Minneapolis. There is very little information given, including no suspect description:

Prospect Park Neighborhood May 26, 2006

Facts:

On May 21 at approximately 2:00 a.m., a woman was raped by a stranger. At the time she was walking to her car in the area of University Ave. and Arthur St.

I'll update as information becomes available.

Minneapolis Murder

The Red Star reports a shooting in Minneapolis, which they call a homicide. Is this #22?

Here's the link: "Minneapolis 911 operator hears shot; man found dead".

A man was found dead Thursday in a Minneapolis home after a caller reported a disturbance there and a 911 operator heard a shot, police said.
The identity of the victim wasn't released, and Capt. Rich Stanek said he wasn't sure whether the victim lived at the residence in the 3000 block of Oliver Avenue N. Nobody had been arrested, Stanek said.

He said that the motive in the homicide, which was discovered about 4:15 p.m., appears to be domestic-related.

Another Robbery: Bryn Mawr Neighborhood, Minneapolis

Bryn Mawr is on the near north side, and has always been advertised as the "good" and "safe" neighborhood amid the rough spots.

Not anymore.

The Minneapolis Police have issued a crime alert as follows, dated 5/25/06:

Bryn Mawr Neighborhood May 25, 2006

Facts:

On Monday, May 22 at approximately 6:30 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of Morgan Ave. S. was robbed in his driveway. Four male suspects robbed him of his wallet, approximately $70.00, his Minnesota driver’s license, and his work ID. The men fled on foot. The victim chased the suspects in his car but lost them.

This is not a pattern and appears to be an isolated incident.

Suspect information

The suspects were described as four black males wearing basketball jerseys and “Starter” jackets. According to the victim, the jerseys and jackets were black with a mix of other colors.

At some point, do you think the city will get robberies under control?

Why I hate Criminals - Old Man Suffers Home Invasion In Minneapolis

Warning: This post is not suitable for minors.

I'm running out of ways to describe the depravity of criminals. They're always coming up with new ways to act out their evil impulses, and the bar keeps getting lowered. The latest "story", as you'll see below, really annoys me.

I loathe criminals because I consider the victims.

People who love criminals, like columnist Ruben Rosario and to a lesser extent Doug Grow of the Red Star don't consider the true victims. In their eyes, the criminal is a victim; a byproduct of racism, elitism, intolerance, lack of diversity, lack of opportunity, the evil white man, ad nauseum.

In my view criminals are in many cases sociopathic, in nearly all cases narcissistic, and in a preponderance of cases depraved. They are coddled by the "system", given too many chances, and too often don't learn their lessons. And liberal columnists like the two aforementioned are part of the problem, not the solution.

Here's the story that led to my little diatribe, from KSTP Eyewitness News: "Elderly man tied up, robbed in own home".

A 73-year-old man is recovering after being tied up and robbed in his own home.

The incident happened at around 1 a.m. Wednesday at the man’s home on 34 th and Johnson St. NE.

The man, who requests to remain anonymous, says two men knocked on his front door and told him they needed help after being in a car accident.

The man says the two suspects punched him, threw him to the floor and tied him up.

I want these scum locked up and given sentences so stiff it will make them cry. I want them doing hard labor each and every day for the duration of their long sentences, with breaks on Sunday morning for church. I want them to suffer every possible indignity while incarcerated. I want them broken.

And that will happen never.

Once again, Minneapolitans are shocked, shocked that such crime could happen in their neighborhood (folks, apparently you haven't been tuning in to the Rambix blog. If so, you wouldn't be surprised).

Neighbors say that kind of crime is unusual in the neighborhood.

"I'm in shock, I just can't believe it would happen in this neighborhood because it's safe,” says one woman. “I'm going to start locking my doors all the time now." [Ed. - you're in Minneapolis lady, not Mayberry]

The suspects fled with the keys to the victim’s SUV, a red, 2004 Chevrolet Blazer with four doors and the Minnesota license plate LNW 692.

I know there are worse crimes, but beating up an old man in his own home is sick.

I hope these rats are caught, and caught soon. I hope the citizens of Minneapolis wake up and realize their "leadership" has failed them, and that they actually do something about it instead of be so surprised about it all the time.

More Minneapolis Shootouts

Andy Aplikowski from KvM beat me to this story from KSTP News: "Four shot overnight in Minneapolis".

Bullets flew in Minneapolis overnight after a pair of double shootings, in two parts Minneapolis. Police taped off an area around Emerson and 27th Aves. around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Officers say two people were shot, but their injuries are not life threatening.

The story was the same at 27th St. and Bloomington Ave. S. Police marked one bullet casing in the middle of the street where two people were shot. Again, non-life threatening injuries.

No arrests in either shooting.

Things just aren't getting better in Rybak's Minneapolis, are they?

P.S. If anyone has information on the shooting of an Allina employee in Minneapolis, please let me know.

Minneapolis Robbers Caught In The Act

The Minneapolis Police SAFE Unit has issued notice that police officers responded to an armed robbery in progress and made several arrests, including that of a 6 foot 7 inch, 290 pounder.

These brave officers handled this extremely dangerous situation with professionalism, and the result is no one got hurt. Blogger props to Officer Brandon Brugger, Officer Pat McMahon, K9 Helmet, Officer Chad Fuchs, and others not named.

(Minneapolis, MN May 24, 2006) On May 23rd at 6:45 p.m., Minneapolis officers responded to an armed robbery of business at 3703 Dight Avenue South. Officer Brandon Brugger, working by himself, arrived at the scene finding this was actually a robbery in progress. Officer Brugger arrested one suspect as the suspect was trying to leave the business. As additional officers arrived, it was learned that other suspects were possibly armed and still inside the business. Officers secured the perimeter of the building and called for K-9.

Officers also learned this was a take over style robbery; the suspects were all armed with guns and had identified themselves as police officers as they entered the business. At gunpoint, the suspects robbed the owner of the business, two employees, and a customer of their wallets.

A Minneapolis police entry team, including Officer Pat McMahon and his K-9 partner Helmut, entered the building. The building is made up of multiple garage areas cluttered with automobiles in various states of repair, auto parts, and various automotive fluids on the floor making the search difficult. K-9 Helmut located a 6 foot 7 inch, 290 pound suspect hiding in a far corner of the business. Officer Chad Fuchs located a second suspect hiding inside a RV camper in the garage.

Officers located several items of evidence at the scene, including a loaded handgun and body armor left behind by the suspects. Officers also recovered a wallet owned by one the victims inside a suspect’s pants pocket. Three suspects arrested for Felony Probable Cause Robbery. One suspect fled prior to officers arriving.

Photos of the three arrested parties will not be available until after criminal charging.
Arrested:

Allen Milton PSIHOS, DOB: 05-23-1977, St. Paul
Kevin Lee BLOCK, 02-18-1967, Apple Valley
Diono Lee ALVIN, DOB: 04-05-1980, Minneapolis

Hopefully the pieces of garbage who committed this crime and put everyone's life in danger will get a real judge and receive real sentences.

Here's Kevin Lee Block's criminal history (could be partial):

Kevin Lee -- Black Male, Born: 02/18/1967

All Reported Dates of Birth
02/18/1967
All Known Aliases/Alternate SpellingsHunter, Kevin
Smith, Kevin
Smith, Kevin Lee
Block, Kevin Lee
Hunter, Kevin Lee

Convictions and SentencingConviction Number: 002
Case Number: 93122087
Court File Number: KX941145
Disposition Date: 08/25/1994
Controlling Agency: St Paul Police Department
Court Agency: Ramsey District Court
Assigned Custodial Agency: Ramsey County Workhouse
Assigned Probation Agency: Ramsey County Probation Office
Count Number: 001
General Offense:
Statute Description: Receiving Stolen Property
Statute Number: 609.53.1
Disposition: Convicted
Pronounced Fine: $0
Stayed Fine: $0
Court Cost Amount: $0
Restitution Amount: $0
Assessment Amount: $0
Pronounced Sentence: 21 Months
Probation Sentence: 10 Years
Conditional Confinement: 20 Days
Conviction Level: Felony

Conviction Number: 003
Case Number: 94061391
Court File Number: K3941455
Disposition Date: 08/25/1994
Controlling Agency: St Paul Police Department
Court Agency: Ramsey District Court
Assigned Custodial Agency: Ramsey County Workhouse
Assigned Probation Agency: Ramsey County Probation Office
Count Number: 001
General Offense:
Statute Description: Assault-5th Degree
Statute Number: 609.224
Disposition: Convicted of Lesser Offense
Pronounced Fine: $700
Stayed Fine: $700
Court Cost Amount: $0
Restitution Amount: $0
Assessment Amount: $700
Pronounced Sentence: 90 Days
Probation Sentence: 1 Years
Conditional Confinement: 20 Days
Conviction Level: Misdemeanor

The other two dirtbags (sorry, "alleged" dirtbags) records aren't available.

Minneapolis Quagmire - Murder

I previously posted on a shooting to the head of an unnamed victim May 20, 2006. That victim has died, and it is now a case of murder.

The Minneapolis Police SAFE Unit has issued a 5/23/06 Crime Alert following a murder of 5/20/06:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUMSTANCES OR INCIDENT:

Minneapolis Police Officers responded to a “shots fired” call in the area of East 26th Street and Cedar Avenue South, Saturday May 20th at about 8:20 p.m. Officers were unable to locate a victim at that time. Within moments, Hennepin County Medical Facility contacted police stating that a gunshot victim had arrived by private vehicle. Information led officers back to the area of East 26th Street and Cedar Avenue South where a crime scene was discovered.

Initial information indicated that the adult male victim was seated inside a parked vehicle when he was shot. The victim was then driven to HCMC for treatment. The victim has since died.

There is no other information available at this time. Anyone with any additional information is asked to call the Minneapolis Police Department’s Tips Line @ 612-692-8477.

Probably gang-on-gang, but so what? Your loved one could have been caught in the crossfire at 8:20 p.m.

What is going on in Minneapolis? Where are the leaders?

Mayor Rybak - have you not yet stepped down? You have failed your mission of assuring the safety of your people. The reutation of your once-fine city is at stake.

The always resourceful The Watcher has some valuable, but disturbing, insight into the matter:

Might be gang-related. There are some former Little Earth residents scheduled to be released from prison this spring/summer, according to the Mpls CODEFOR meeting early this month.

There is concern that gang-related violence will increase.

The Watcher 05.23.06 - 11:57 am

Indeed.

Minneapolis Quagmire, Part 854

The Minneapolis Police SAFE Unit has issued a Crime Alert following a robbery of person as follows:

On Monday 5-22-06 at about 7:55 pm a Robbery of Person occurred on the 4700 block of Girard Av S. Here is the public info from that report;

“VICTIM REPORTED THAT SUSPECT GRABBED HER PURSE AND THREW HER TO THE GROUND. SUSPECT FLED IN A VEHICLE. VICTIM HAD MINOR INJURIES AND REFUSED EMS. VICTIM WAS GIVEN A BLUE CARD AND ADVISED. TOTAL LOSS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY $800.00.”

The suspect is described as a black male, 6’00” to 6’02”, mid 30’s, with a clean shaven head.

This is a nice part of town, good readers. Where are the Minneapolis City leaders? Why are the citizens of the city who are not furtunate enough to live or work in the "Safe Zone" subject to this level of violence?

Minneapolis Quagmire, Part 853

The Minneapolis Police SAFE Unit has issued a Crime Alert following a robbery of person as follows:

On Monday, 5-22-06 at about 7:53 pm, there was a Robbery of Person on the 3100 block of Fremont Av S. Here is the Public Information from the report;

“Officer dispatched to a robbery of person/purse snatch at above location. Upon arrival, vic advised that she heard someone run up from behind her and then she felt her purse being pulled forcefully by listed suspect 1. Vic was knocked to the ground due to the force of the pull on the purse by listed suspect 1. Suspect 1 jumped into the passenger side of a dark colored veh being driven by an unknown party/suspect 2 and fled the area NB on Fremont Av S with loss. No weapons implied or seen. Vic was given blue case card and advised. “

The suspect is described as a black male, 5’7” to 5’8” with a medium build. Suspect also had a “corn rows” hair style.

How can Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar work on getting the scum in prison if she's busy on the campaign trail?

Answer: She obviously can't.

Minneapolis Quagmire, Part 852

The Minneapolis Police SAFE Unit has issued a Crime Alert following a robbery of person as follows:

On Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at 01:39 am a robbery of person occurred at Bryant Ave S. & Franklin Ave W.

Here is the public information from the report:

Victim was walking home when an unknown suspect attempted to take her purse after knocking her to the ground. Victim fought off the suspect who is described as a light skinned Hispanic male, 20-35 years old, 5’ to 6’tall, thin build, black short hair, wearing a white short sleeve t-shirt and dark pants. Suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction.

It's really hit the fan this week, folks. Life in the Minneapolis Red Zone can be cruel.

Shot In The Head In South Minneapolis

The Red Star reports on a shooting from Saturday night in South Minneapolis. No suspect information is available.

A man was shot in the head and critically wounded while in a vehicle in south Minneapolis, police said Monday.
Capt. Rich Stanek wouldn't discuss a motive for the shooting, which occurred about 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

The victim was in a vehicle with three other people in an alley near 26th Street and Cedar Avenue S. when another vehicle drove up and shots were fired, Stanek said. The victim was hit once in the head, Stanek said.

No suspect information is given, and no arrests have been made.

Crime Alert: Robbery of Business

More Minneapolis mayhem; the Minneapolis Police SAFE Unit has issued an Advisory Crime Alert following a robbery of business yesterday at 4618 Nicollet Ave. S.

At 11:07 pm on Sunday May 21, 2006 there was also a Robbery of Business at 4618 Nicollet Av S.

“Officers took a robbery of business report at the above the location. Suspects displayed handguns and fled the scene with the loss.”

That's certainly a paucity of information. What do these rats look like? Vehicle description? What's the name of the business?

This is an area near "good" Minneapolis neighborhoods, and "normal" people shop and do business at the strip mall on the corner. Unfortunately, it's also located in the Red Zone, which leads me to issue this advice:

Use discretion at all times when shopping, living, or working in
Minneapolis, particularly when you enter the Red Zone.

Crime Alert: Robbery of Person

The Minneapolis Police SAFE Unit has issued an Advisory Crime Alert dated May 22, 2006 on a robbery of person from May 21, 2006:

On Sunday May 21, 2006 at about 9:45 pm, a Robbery of Person took place near 38th St and Blaisdell Av S.

Here is the Public Info from this event [Ed. - "Event"?];

“Victim was riding bicycle EB on 38th approaching Blaisdell when she was pushed off of bike and onto ground. Suspect then took victm's purse containing keys, ID, checks, and gift certificate. Suspect fled SB on Blaisdell with the victim's purse.

SUSPECT: B/M, MID 20'S+, 6'0" 200, DARK SHIRT, DARK PANTS.

The victim was concerned about her home and was transported there to check on it. AOK. Victim was given a blue card.”

A person can't ride their bicycle in the City of Minneapolis anymore without getting mugged, at least in the Red Zone anyway.

Let's get this dirtbag forthwith.

Minneapolis Shootout

Shooting at the police is generally not recommended, but Minneapolis criminals aren't too bright. KSTP Eyewitness News reports a shootout following a disturbance call in Minneapolis: "Shootout involving police on city's north side".

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Two Minneapolis police officers are unhurt after an early morning shooting Sunday on the city's north side.

Officers were responding to a disturbance call on Newton Avenue North when they were confronted by a group of people in front of the home.

Police say someone fired a gun at the two officers, and one of the officers returned fire. The officers were not injured.

Several guns were recovered, and witnesses were taken to police headquarters for interviews. One man was arrested and booked on an unrelated warrant.

Thankfully no officers were hurt and some bad men were taken off the streets. Now we can only hope some softie judge doesn't kick them back to the streets in short order.

Captured!

I'm happy to report the child molester from this post has been captured. Kudos to the St. Paul Police.

Requesting Your Input For Hennepin County Website

The Hennepin County Sheriff's jail roster is a great resource for Rambix and the Red Star and other blogs and news sources. Unlike Dakota County's site, however, they don't provide booking photos.

Photos are a valuable enhancement for reporting on crime stories. As you know, MSM such as the Red Star often omit photos of certain criminals for reason of political correctness, furtherance of agenda, or to make room for the myriad multicultural and diversity propaganda.

In any event, there is no sound reason why photos should not be published on the Hennepin County site. If they receive enough requests, perhaps they will make the addition.

So, if you would be so kind as to complete the Hennepin County website survey and request that the jail roster include booking photos, that will allow Rambix to enhance future service. It should take less than a minute.

Thank you.

Have You Seen This Pervert?

The St. Paul Police need help locating this Level 3 sex pervert/child molester:

MEDIA ADVISORY
Saint Paul Police Department
367 Grove Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101

Officer Pete Crum
Public Information Coordinator

651-266-5735 - Office

651-755-9990 - Cellular

May 21, 2006

Police Seek Public’s Help in Locating Level III Sex Offender

On Saturday May 20, 2006 at 5:46 PM Saint Paul Police responded to Duluth Street and Minnehaha Avenue E. on a report of a male in his car masturbating while trying to lure two young girls to his vehicle. This incident was witnessed by a passerby on a bicycle who told the children to go home and chased off the suspect.

Police were able to locate the two children, ages 6 and 7-years-old, and the
witness. The children were unharmed and returned to their parents. The witness picked the suspect, Kerry Dean Stevenson DOB: 4/29/55, out of a photo line-up. Stevenson is a level III sex offender with numerous convictions throughout the Metro area for similar incidents involving young children. It appears that Stevenson was released from probation on May 15th of this year and is registered to live in Minneapolis.

Stevenson is a white male; 5’9” tall; about 180 pounds; with medium length, brown, hair; brown eyes; a moustache and goatee. Stevenson was driving a 1989, red, two door, Buick Reatta with MN license EMP-007.

Saint Paul Police have issued a pick up and hold for probable cause felony lewd conduct and attempted abduction. Stevenson remains at large and has a high likelihood to re-offend. Saint Paul Police seek the public’s help in locating Stevenson. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Kerry Dean Stevenson please call the Saint Paul Police Department at (651) 291-1111.

Here's some interesting details: "High likelihood to re-offend", "numerous convictions", "released from probation".

So what does Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar have to say about this? Why is this dangerous sex pervert a free man? What judge let him go?

What say you, Ms. Klobuchar?

A Red Star Perspective

Perceptive Rambix reader Brian M. had the following email exchange with Red Star reporter Chao Xiong (start from the bottom):

To: cxiong@startribune.com

At best, your 'policy' is inconsistant.

The murderer of the innocent Minnetonka man near block E recently used a .44 Magnum, which was detailed extensively by your paper.

However, the weapon used by the murderer(s) of the innocent visiting college student who was out for dinner with his mother recently near Uptown was never identified. Nor was the source of the weapon examined, as was the .44 Magnum.

Interestingly, your paper also failed in both of these high profile cases to reveal ANY background information regarding the adults who have been CHARGED in both of these cases.

Not the least of which was the omission of photos of the CHARGED individuals.

Brian M---


-----Original Message-----
From: Chao Xiong
To: XXX@aol.com
Sent: Thu, 18 May 2006 13:37:16 -0500
Subject: Re: Gun

Brian,

Your allegation that we are "anti-gun" is pretty bold and unfounded. We are objective news gatherers. For the record, police rarely if ever release the caliber or type of gun involved in incidents like this or homicides. This is their policy and although we may ask, there is nothing we can do to force it out of them. If you have questions about this policy, you are better off contacting the respective police department. As you may not have noticed, the article states that authorities were not identifying the child, which is common in cases nvolving a juvenile. Without that information, we can not reach the parents.

Best,

Chao Xiong
Star Tribune Staff Writer
612-673-4391/work
612-270-4708/cell
612-288-8482/fax
cxiong@startribune.com

425 Portland Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55488-0002

>>> 5/18/2006 10:51 AM >>>
I am wondering why your article today regarding the five year old that brought a loaded gun to the Head Start school failed to mention the type or caliber of gun it was.

It seems to me that that information is rather relevant to the story.

Was it a revolver or a semi-auto?

.22 calliber or .45?

I mean, I realize that your paper is as anti-gun as is possible, but to leave this information out is simply poor journalism.

I also would like to know if the child's parents were contacted and if so, what their response was.

Again, please try to provide the whole story.

Thank you.

Brian M---

Mr. Xiong may or may not disagree with Brian, but he is handcuffed by the Red Star editorial policies. I give him credit for taking the time to respond. The bottom line is: of course the Red Star is anti-gun.

Richfield Shooting Update

Some of you probably wonder why I'm concerned about a shooting in Richfield, when the primary focus of this blog is Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Here's why, for those of you who may not be familiar with the area. 66th and Penn Ave. S. in Richfield is a major crossroads for people traveling from Minneapolis to the I494 corridor, as well as for those coming to or from Edina to Hwy 62 (Crosstown) to Minneapolis or St. Paul, or the airport, or any number of places.

In addition, the intersection is not far from Southdale Shopping Center in Edina, the hospital, and other destinations.

A shooting in broad daylight in that area is particularly troubling because of the potential fallout. Your mother, son, daughter, husband, or wife could easily have been in the line of fire.

Most of us won't lose sleep if a gangbanger shoots another gangbanger, but the problem is we often get caught in the crossfire. This is how gang-on-gang, or criminal-on-criminal crime affects us all.

We can't allow that to happen.

Here's an update from WCCO News: "Police: Road Rage Led To Gunfire In Richfield".

(WCCO) Richfield, Minn. One man was hospitalized after an apparent road rage incident ended in gunfire Friday in Richfield, Minn., police said.

Police said the altercation happened near West 66th Street at Penn Avenue South around 5 p.m.

Two male drivers got out of their vehicles and confronted each other outside a fast food restaurant, police said.

Authorities said one man punched the other, then shots were fired.

One of the drivers sustained a cut above his eye and was taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported.

Police recovered a gun and said it was not yet clear who fired shots in the altercation.
The other driver was not in custody Friday night.

Richfield Rush Hour Shooting at 66th & Penn

The dead tree edition of the Red Star reports on a rush hour shooting yesterday at the intersection of 66th and Penn in Richfield. Anyone familiar with the area knows this is an extremely busy area with many pedestrians and traffic, so a shooting in that area is of consequence.

The Red Star has not linked the story to their web site, and I don't see any other reports. I'll post more as details emerge.

Minneapolis Peace Rally Shooting

WCCO News reports, via AP, of a shooting at a Friday night "peace rally" in North Minneapolis: "Teen shot at peace rally".

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A rally for peace on the streets of Minneapolis was marred Friday night when a teenager was shot.

Police said the teen was shot around 9 p.m. just as the rally was ending. He was taken to North Memorial Medical Center and was expected to survive.

About 1,500 people were at the rally when a fight broke out, and somebody pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the back, police said.

Organizers were distressed that the peace rally had ended on a violent note because that's just what they were trying to prevent.

Peace rallys don't prevent violence. Being soft and squishy will not prevent violence. Judge Robert Lynn will not prevent violence.

A merciless crackdown by authorities on violent criminals, strong prosecutorial followup, and meaningful prison time will prevent violence.

The Minneapolis Quagmire continues.

What's The Matter With This Judge?

You may have seen the news report on the sentencing of home builder Bruce Bren, a sewer rat who defrauded and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from customers for his own benefit. He was given a slap on the wrist sentence by Judge Robert H. Lynn of the Minnesota Fourth District Court. And people aren't happy.

KARE 11 News reports: "Two Day Jail sentence for millionaire builder angers many"

Bruce Bren is a longtime prominent builder in the Twin Cities who angered a lot of people when he didn't pay the bills.

On Friday, he was sentenced to spend two nights in jail for fraud. The Hennepin County Attorney thought he should go to prison for four years.

Bren was initially charged with 19 counts of theft by swindle, credit fraud and what amounts to contractor fraud. Friday, he was sentenced on the contractor fraud charges he plead guilty too.

Mr. Bren caused untold pain for the customers he stole money from, large amounts of money, and the judge gave him essentially no punishment. Victims, police, and prosecutors are rightfully outraged:

...Hennepin County Prosecutors said he lied, was corrupt and was taking lavish vacations around the world on money that should have gone to pay subcontractors. Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar was upset at the slap on the wrist, "This is a man who should have gone to prison. He ripped off these homeowners of basically hundreds of thousands of dollars. He was a white collar criminal."

The Police Chief of Wayzata Michael Risvold, whose department investigated the case, was also upset at the sentence, "This sentencing sends a clear message that white collar criminals can steal millions of dollars and there's no justice on behalf of the victims. He even used some of the stolen proceeds to add on to his lake home in Northern Minnesota."

Also angry when they left the courtroom were some of the victim's who had bought houses and then were left to settle with subcontractors who filed liens against their property. One of them was Michael Jordan. He had Bren build him a home in Stillwater. Jordan says Bren made off with $500,000 of his money. "I chased this guy through court system after court system. He filed a fraudulent bankruptcy absolute joke."

Even Hennepin County Attorney Klobuchar is unhappy about this one.

That's bad, but here's an interesting twist: I've written about Judge Lynn before. This bleeding heart judge allowed a murderer to go unhandcuffed and unshackled at his sentencing for a coldblooded robbery/murder. Can you imagine any person, much less a District Court Judge, having so little common sense as to allow a murderer freedom of movement at his sentencing for a major crime?

What would your common sense tell you would happen?

That's right, and it did happen, as the Star Tribune reported at the time:

He [the murderer] began swearing and refused to cooperate when Hennepin County District Judge Robert Lynn ordered him removed from the Minneapolis courtroom, said Jeff Bakken, spokesperson for the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

Jefferson, who was not handcuffed, pulled away from Deputy Joel Flygaren and the two scuffled on the courtroom floor, Bakken said. Flygaren was hit above his right eye, Bakken said.

Isn't a judge supposed to have judgement?

And here he is less than a year later insulting the victims of Mr. Bren. It's as if he told the victims that the justice system cares more about the criminal than about them.

If you good people want to know why Minnesota has a revolving door court system, this is the one of the foremost reasons. Bleeding heart liberals like Judge Lynn have no place on the business end of the justice system.

Urban Assault: More Robberies

The crime alerts are coming in fast and furious, folks.

Here's a Robberies of Persons Alert from the Minneapolis Police:

St. Anthony East Neighborhood (5-19-2006)

Robberies of Persons May 19, 2006

St. Anthony East Neighborhood

Facts:

In recent weeks, we have had several individuals robbed in the St. Anthony East neighborhood.

On May 10 at about 9:45 p.m., suspects assaulted a woman in the park at Jefferson and Spring and took her wallet.
On May 14 at 3:45 p.m. in the 400 block of 5th St. NE, suspects assaulted a woman and took her purse.
On May 15 at about 8:00 p.m. at 4th St. NE and 6th Ave. NE, suspects on bikes assaulted an elderly victim and took his wallet.
Suspect information:

There is limited suspect information and the descriptions are not the same. In two of the incidents, there were two suspects involved. In the third, there were more than two people involved.

These are not late night robberies, nor is it a "bad" area.

Who are these criminal scum terrorizing our city?

ALERT: New Robbery Near Site Of Wednesday's Carjacking Attempt

I hate to interrupt a great comment thread going on in the previous post, but we've got more problems to deal with in Minneapolis, and this one is again near Tracy's house and the previous carjacking attempt.

You won't read this in the Red Star, so here's the crime alert from the Minneapolis SAFE Unit, dated 5/18/06:

SAFE 5.2: 39xx Pleasant Av Robbery

This morning (5-18-06) at about 3:10 am a Robbery of Person took place on the 39xx block of Pleasant Av. S. This is the second morning in a row, with a similar type of robbery. Yesterday morning there was a similar robbery on the 37xx block of Harriet Av S. The suspect description is also similar, but is very vague.

Here is the Public Information from this case;

“Victim was robbed at gunpoint while seated in her vehicle out in front of her home. Victim was not injured. Suspect is described as a black male, mid 20's, medium build, 5'08 to 5'10, wearing a dark hooded nylon jacket with hood up, blue jeans, and brandished a black handgun. Suspect fled on foot northbound on Pleasant Av. S. with victims checkcard. Victim given case card.”

It's apparent Tracy lives in the Red Zone, because surely the heavy police presence in the "Safe Zone" would have prevented these crimes, right? It appears you're on your own in the Red Zone.

Furthermore, this kind of garbage makes it harder for JB's opponents to claim rural is just as dangerous as urban. I for one am not buying it. Sure, with the influx of "immigrants", meth, and gang culture to rural towns, crime and violence have increased. But it's just a shadow of the culture of crime in Minneapolis.

The density of a city environment elevates your chances of encountering gangs, violence, or crime in general. Ask Rambix reader McGruv, who had a cold-blooded execution take place in his back yard. Ask our Anti-Strib friend Tracy, who is living the nightmare of being in close proximity to the recent crimes detailed in this post and the previous post. These are hitting close to home, no?

And summer's not even here yet, folks.

Minneapolis Attempted Carjacking

Let's see if the Red Star reports this story.

The Minneapolis Police SAFE Unit has issued an alert on an attempted carjacking in the 3700 block of Harriet Ave. S. in Minneapolis. For those of you not familiar with this area, it is a neighborhood that used to be bad, but turned for the better in the late 1990s. It's now filled with young people and long time residents who take care of and improve their homes, but it is still considered a somewhat of a transition area from more dangerous neighborhoods further north.

In other words, an attempted carjacking here is unusual. This is not the North Side.

Per the Minneapolis Police SAFE Unit:

This morning (5-17-06) at about 6 am, an attempted Robbery/Car Jacking occurred on the 37xx block of Harriet Av S.

“Victim was sitting in her vehicle putting on makeup prior to going to work. The suspect attempted to car jack her vehicle. The Victim fled the vehicle with the car keys. The suspect then fled when witnesses began to respond to screams for help from the Victim.”

There is limited suspect information. Black Male, late teens or early twenties wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Suspect was riding a bright colored bicycle prior to the attempted criminal act.

This rat is still on the loose. Let's hope they get him soon.

Criminal Gangs Terrorize St. Paul

KSTP News reports a disturbing spate of violence in St. Paul allegedly by gang criminals.

These thugs are not above shooting up houses and terrorizing women and children, as in this story: "Violence from St. Paul home invasion spread ".

Five suspects held a woman and her four children at gunpoint during a violent home invasion in a St. Paul neighborhood, police say.

A home just a few houses away was also riddled with bullets from the same group of suspects.

The five suspects were armed with guns when they kicked in the door of the first home. They then demanded money from a woman who was home, and woke up her four children at gunpoint.

The suspects then fled and fired shots, at least one of which went through the roof of Vonita Hoffer’s home.

The police report that the home invasion victims were not known by the criminals. If true, this type of random crime is particularly serious and needs to be stopped now.

Hoffer says she is concerned about safety after the incident.

"You think you're safe in your own home, but unless you have a brick home its not going to stop bullets,” she says.

Police say the suspects do not know the home invasion victims.

The two men in custody are known gang members.

Police are still searching for two to three other suspects.

There seems to be no end to the number of gangsters that do their business in the metro area. It's going to be a long, hot summer in the Twin Cities unless the authorities institute a no-holds-barred crackdown on the criminal scum who seem intent on taking control of our neighborhoods.

Dear Nick Coleman...

I've been accused of a lot of things before, but a "gruppenblogger"? That's a first.

Yes, I understand you've been a newspaper writer/columnist for many years, and you probably have a rolodex the size of your ego. I further understand that you're the Red Star columnist the righty bloggers love to hate, but do you understand why?

I'll give you my perspective with a response to the comment you left on 5/16/06, in response to this post.

Rambi, baby:

Good start. It's like we've known each other for years.

You are missing the point... Your blog is based on the premise that everything Strib is bad, everything Righty Blog is good

Not everything in the Red Star is bad. Lileks is pretty good, and Kersten is tremendous. The rest of the paper is leftist and multiculturalist propaganda. I believe I've documented that fairly well here and at Anti-Strib.

Because I'm more of a (crime) news aggregator than an original content provider, my points are backed up with examples and/or news links. I don't make assertions without some backup, although I do give editorial comment. So in a sense, my blog has the validity of the professional news media, and you can take that for what it's worth.

Righty blogs are not always good, although we are a growing alternative to the dead tree media. I don't think you and others in your business like this.

Think about it: Rambix and the Red Star became popular because people were able to access news stories they wouldn't find in the Red Star and other big media news outlets. Sure, there were the odd stories here and there in the MSM, but never the big picture of crime news, and many stories have been simply ignored or even suppressed.

One of the best examples I can think of offhand was the savage beating of a pedestrian taking a stroll around Lake Harriet. If the story appeared in the Red Star it was not prominent, yet I found it through other news sources and posted it here, along with many others that came in under the radar (see my 2005 year end roundup). These stories are important because they affect you and me, and not some nameless gangbanger on the north side.

I can't prove this, but I suspect the Red Star has a protective reflex for Minneapolis, and particularly liberal hangouts like Lake Harriet. I would feel confident predicting that many Red Star reporters and editors live in or near Minneapolis, and it hurts the area if they report danger, so they avoid it or bury it in the back pages.

It's obvious that there is a "market" for this kind of news, and readers are turning to blogs like this one in ever greater numbers to fulfill their information needs.

..but the issue of crime in Minneapolis is not liberal vs. conservative...it's good guys vs. the guns and goons...

We agree on this, but the political position is relevant, because liberals approach crime issues different than conservatives. Mayor Rybak is a liberal - how's it working out for him? Mayor Giuliani is a conservative, and he cleaned up NYC. Conservatives don't care about "root causes" and "rough childhoods" until the immediate problem is solved, then maybe they take the time to look at those things. Thugs understand power of authority and surety and swiftness of justice, and if those elements aren't present, they get all "Minneapolis" on us.

...for what it's worth, I agree that soft-headed thinking has helped let the crime thing get to the dangerous point where we find ourselves now...and I appreciate much (but not all) of the points you make on your blog...and, in fact, I've been making many of the same ones in my column in the Strib since my return there from St. Paul in late 2003...

We agree on the consequences of soft-headed thinking. This relates to my point above.

I also recognize your history of crime reporting, and I appreciate that, but you often fall into the liberal trap (as do your colleagues Rosario and Grow) of looking for the humanity of the criminal and the reasoning of his actions, or throwing blame at some conservative for cutting funding which results in some poor mope turning to violence due to "lack of options".

My sympathies lie with the victim, and I find it offensive when the Red Star (not necessarily you) minimizes the criminal's behavior or otherwise makes excuses. I've documented those instances as well. That type of reporting is insulting to the good people of the community.

You won't find too much criminal sympathy here, and I think people find that refreshing.

In fact, regarding the lampooning of Mayor Rybak's infamous "high-risk activities" quote in June 2005, it was ME who started the fun...with the column I posted here in two parts earlier...Your gruppenleaders at Powerline didn't climb on board until August, I believe...but as always, whatever they write they think they invented...The bottom line point is that raising awareness of crime and its costs requires all sides in the public arena to pull together...
Nick Coleman 05.16.06 - 9:35 am

If Powerline stole your idea, well, I don't have a dog in that fight. But to imply they are unoriginal would be folly, and they have the TIME cover to prove it.

I again agree with you about the merit of all sides pulling together, but the left side is going about it all wrong. I've posted solutions culled from readers (most specifically Nordeaster), but this comes from the right. I haven't heard any valuable solutions coming from your side since the push for more streetlights following the Zebuhr slaughter.

By the way, would the Red Star ever call a murder like Mr. Zebuhr's a "slaughter"? Well, it was a slaughter. And that's why more and more people are tuning in to blogs like this one, because we tell it like it is, and we report that which is not being reported in the MSM.

And thanks for your comments.

Where lies the truth?

On May 8, 2006, I posted the story of the reported robbery/abduction of 23 year old Molly Kirwan early on a Sunday morning in South Minneapolis. I subsequently posted further details here.

The facts as reported were particularly troubling because the young woman claimed she was snatched off the street in broad daylight while walking to work. Despite the unusual set of facts, the circumstances were not unimaginable given the crime pattern in Minneapolis since early 2005. In other words, there was no reason to doubt the victim.

Or was there?

David Chanen of the Red Star reports today: "Minneapolis police, woman dispute daytime abduction, robbery".

Molly Kirwan is more than a little miffed that Minneapolis police are doubting her contention that she was robbed and kidnapped by a stranger during the day on a south Minneapolis street last week.

The 23-year-old Hamline University graduate said she was walking to work at a nearby coffee shop about 7 a.m., May 7, when a man drove up and forced her into a car at W. 25th Street and Lyndale Avenue S. The man took about $110 cash and a credit card, drove her around for about 10 minutes and then groped her as she was let out of the car about 10 blocks away, she said.

It would defy all reason that someone would make up such a story, but it has certainly happened more often than we would like to believe. Think Susan Smith. There have also been a few stories in the local media over the past few years about young girls reporting that they were abducted, only to have their stories fall apart under persistent questioning. These can reasonably be explained as cries for attention.

Ms. Kirwan doesn't fit those "profiles", and there is no known motive to lie. The police, who have more information than the public, are skeptical:

Police say her story has inconsistencies and that a suspect isn't being actively pursued.

Lt. Mike Fossum, head of the robbery unit, said Kirwan declined to let police do a sketch of the suspect and reported the alleged crime to her boyfriend and somebody at work before calling police.

"We can't absolutely doubt what she has to say," Fossum said. "But we have no physical evidence or witnesses. We could be spending our time on cases with real leads."

These investigators have been around for awhile; I suspect it's hard to fool them. The crime is very serious, if true, and they would likely be very concerned about catching the criminal. That doesn't appear to be the case.

If in fact Ms. Kirwan made up the story, it would be especially egregious at a time when Minneapolis is struggling to salvage its reputation as a safe, viable city. More bad news they don't need.

Minneapolis has been shaken this year by two high-profile, random killings - one near Target Center downtown and another in Uptown, several blocks from where Kirwan reported that her abduction occurred.

"A woman who heard Molly scream was at the meeting and said she called 911," Biehn said. "It's really nerve-wracking that it happened."

Several friends of Kirwan's have been expressing their sympathy for her on her myspace.com page, including one Minneapolis woman who said, "I'm getting some mace."

Mace isn't a bad idea, but you can do better. Whether Mr. Kirwan's story pans out or not, crime remains a problem in Minneapolis in particular, and the Twin Cities in general. It's always good to be prepared.

Here's an interesting sidebar some quick internet research turned up. Ms. Kirwan is described as a Hamline student - these web postings seem to match, and give a glimpse of her background. Read into it what you will: http://www.hamline.edu/mt/cgi-bin/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=10&search=kirwan

For Want Of A Clue

Dan of Smoke Out Gary posts on a disturbing development in the Minneapolis Police chief search. Minneapolis Mayor Rybak has outdone himself by cobbling together a Police Chief Advisory Committee which appears to have been built on political correctness, diversity, and multiculturalism with no recognizable law enforcement component.

I’m suffering a melt-down.

Mayor Rybak has released a list of Advisory Committee Members to select Minneapolis’ next police chief.

Here it is:

Mayor’s Police Chief Advisory Committee:
Peggy Flanagan, Committee Co-Chair, Minneapolis School Board
Al Gallmon, Committee Co-Chair, Fellowship Baptist Church
Shukri Adan, Universal Home Health Care
Roberta Englund, Folwell/Webber-Camden Neighborhood Organization
Linda Higgins, Minnesota Senate
Frank Hornstein, Minnesota House of Representatives
Fred LaFleur, Hennepin County Community Corrections
Duo Lee, Southeast Asian Community Council
Juan Linares, economic empowerment activist and consultant
Don Samuels, Minneapolis City Council
V.J. Smith, MADDADS
David Sternberg, Downtown Business Council

Dan comments:

WHA!? There are no cops on the advisory committee to pick a new chief of police? The Mayor has indicated that he will hear officer’s input via a “focus group.” The chairpeople of his committee are from a church, and the SCHOOL BOARD?

Don't forget the urban socialists, Dan.

Chad the Elder from Fraters Libertas analyzes the misplaced priorities of the urban socialists:

Instead of spending their time on smoking bans, making the city "greener," assuring gender and ethnic diversity in the ranks of the City's street sweepers, and where their next bribe is coming from (in the case of the City Council at least), they should concentrate on making the streets safe, the schools decent, and the burden of government on citizens and businesses tolerable. No, I'm not holding my breath.

Mayor Rybak & Company seem to learn little from experience.

It's going to be a long summer for Minneapolis citizens

New Minneapolis Police Chief?

While I can't imagine why anyone would want the job of Minneapolis Police Chief, the Red Star reports that a choice for chief may have already been made: "Is pick for Minneapolis police chief already a done deal?".

While Mayor R.T. Rybak announced Monday that he would name his candidate for Minneapolis' next police chief by September, many believe the choice already has been made.

Interim Chief Tim Dolan is the job's frontrunner. Unlike the process that brought Bill McManus to town from Dayton, Ohio, as chief two years ago, there won't be a national search, Rybak said. That cost the city more than $30,000, and McManus left in April to become the chief in San Antonio, Texas.

Picking someone from within the ranks is a great idea, but Minneapolis leaders don't like doing things the simple way. They will somehow find a way to spend taxpayer's dollars in the chief search process.

Apparently Interim Chief Dolan is smart enough to live outside of Minneapolis, yet this is somehow an issue for Mayor Rybak (Mr. Mayor - It's fortunate someone is interested in the job at all. Don't nitpik on where that interested person lives).

A snag in Dolan's nomination could be that he lives in Edina, and Rybak said Monday that it's "very important" for the chief to live in Minneapolis. Previous chiefs have lived in the city, but there is no residency requirement.

"I will be applying for the job, and I know it could be a factor," Dolan said Monday. "My roots have always been in the city. I've worked and lived most of my life there. It doesn't make any difference on my commitment."

Of course it doesn't make a difference. I bet a lot of the cops don't live there either. They work there and know better.

Rybak has repeatedly said that the city won't miss a beat on public safety with Dolan running the department in an interim position. And with serious reported crime 17 percent higher than this time last year, the mayor indicated that the next chief needs to hit the ground running.

Crime keeps going up (17%!). Maybe it's time for a new strategy (see here) and new blood in the department.

I hear Fire chief Bleskachek might be available.

Serial Armed Robberies In St. Paul

WCCO News reports a string of St. Paul armed robberies thought to be related: "Police: Armed Robbers Targeting St. Paul Bars".

(WCCO) St. Paul Five St. Paul bars, including the Trend Bar on University Avenue, have been robbed at gunpoint in the past month, and police believe the crimes may be related.

The suspects generally enter bars around closing time. They wear hoods, order patrons and bar staff to the ground and demand money, police said.

"Two guys came in with guns and proceeded to push us to the ground," one bar owner recalled. "Then they forced me behind the bar to give them the cash."

The man did not want his name or his bar's name disclosed, fearing the suspects would come back.

"They said they were going to kill me," the man said. "Pointed a gun to my head and said they were going to kill me, and (told me to) give them all the money."

These are very bad men and need to be stopped forthwith. Their pattern exemplifies the increase in very bold armed robberies across the metro area, particularly in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In short, they are a murder waiting to happen.

The cops agree:

"They're very brazen," St. Paul Police Officer Pete Crum said. "They come in with guns, take the bar over, take the money and leave. Luckily, at this point, no one's been seriously injured."

It's troubling that there are two of them, first of all because there exists the possibility of one or more others waiting outside as lookouts or "wheelmen", but also because it's easier to deal with a single meth-addled freak than it is a group of men soberly bent on violence.

The man said his bar has been robbed three times in the last four years. "We're going to try it for another year and see how it goes," he said.

Police are seeking three suspects in connection with these robberies. Anyone with information helpful to the investigation is asked to call the St. Paul Police Department.

Robbed three times in the last four years - It's a wonder how these people manage to stay in business.

And finally, you'll note that the police are actually looking for three suspects, which tells me there might even be more out there.

Let's get these rats before they hurt someone.

Coleman Writes About Rambix Reader McGruv

...but no mention of Rambix!

On May 3rd Rambix reader McGruv sent me an email detailing a North Minneapolis murder that had just occurred in his own backyard. It was actually more of an execution than a simple murder. I posted his email (with permission) here.

Two weeks later, intrepid Red Star columnist Nick Coleman picks up the story: "Neighbors wonder why city doesn't hear their pleas".

Actually, Nick writes this story pretty straight. This goes back to my theory that when Mayor Rybak lost the liberals on crime in Minneapolis, then he's pretty much hanging in the wind. He appears to have even lost uber-liberal Coleman, and he still hasn't resigned.

Nick writes:

Derek and Lindsay moved into their home six weeks ago. On May 3, Derek, 27, was giving the kids a bath when he heard shots. An execution was going down in his back yard.

Barbara, 58, saw it from a window in her home, a few doors away. Like everyone else in this story, she asked me to keep her last name out of it. You don't have to wonder why.

Barbara watched as two hoods pumped bullets into Christopher Lynch, 19, who was on his knees in Derek's yard. After the killers fled, Barbara, a hairdresser, ran to the side of the dying teen.

(I'm making the logical assumption that McGruv is Derek)

"They shot him everywhere -- the face, the back, the butt. When [emergency responders] cut his clothes off, he was bleeding all over. I didn't want to leave him. He was still warm. They had him buck naked in front of everybody in the neighborhood, so I yelled at them to cover him up and let him have some dignity.

"Then they carried him away, like he was a sack of nothing."

My understanding is that the victim is actually not a "sack of nothing". He was allegedly a drug dealer, possibly a gang-banger. He was also murder #19 of the year in Minneapolis, if I'm not mistaken.

"We know what's going on," says Corbin [neighbor]. "We talk to our elected officials. We talk to the police. But we have yet to get an adequate response. It takes people dying to get attention."

Even that doesn't always work. As we come to the yard where Christopher Lynch died, we are just in time for his vigil. There is a lone TV helicopter overhead, but no cops or media people on the ground as 50 friends and neighbors hold hands in a circle and pray at the spot where Christopher died.

It's unfortunate, Corbin, but even death doesn't get real response from the liberal Minneapolis establishment (see the previous post for what really ought to be done).

The mayor doesn't know what to do and Hennepin county Attorney Amy Klobuchar is too busy on the campaign trail to incarcerate the filth that is stinking up the city of Minneapolis.

McGruv offered Nick some words of wisdom:

"We can't just take off and leave," Derek says as his kids run around the prayer circle, oblivious to the reason for the gathering. "You can't sell a house two months after you bought it, not with a murder in your back yard. The thing of why we moved here was it was affordable, and it was a good neighborhood.

"But this is how bad neighborhoods get bad. They get that way because somebody hijacks a good neighborhood. And nobody does anything about it."

Minneapolis Crime Solutions

"Anonymous", a partially reformed liberal, posted a comment stating that he found Rambix and the Red Star in a search for answers to ever-increasing Minneapolis crime. He finished his comment by saying that he didn't find answers here, and with the last vestige of his liberalism intact, he adds this: "...I know first hand that the issues are much more complex than you and the media make them out to be."

In other words, the issue is "nuanced", an oft-used descriptor used by the left.

Well, I don't think the answers are that hard to find. In fact, I had a previous call-out for public input on solutions to the Minneapolis Quagmire, and received some very thoughtful responses. For the benefit of "Anonymous" I'll repost this response from Nordeaster, taken from this post, which I believe represents the most effective non-nuanced proactive Quagmire solution I've heard so far:

In simple economic terms, we have a surplus of criminals. The question then is how do we reduce that surplus?

Most of the conversation has been on the enforcement side. More cops and tougher sentancing will get a few more criminals off the street, keep them off longer, and may even deter some from committing a crime. That however treats a symptom, not a cause. I agree with those who argue this is a band-aid approach. [Ed. - right on]

My recommendations go broader.

1). Stricter welfare requirements. How many times in recent years have we seen crime reports in Minnesota listing violent criminals being from Milwaukee, East St. Louis or Gary, IN? It's no coincidence that the rise in move-in criminals occured when tougher welfare laws were enacted in states like Wisconsin (Gov. Thompson) and Indiana. The criminal element flocked to Minnesota where handouts were easy.

The solution -- commit a serious crime, forfeit your welfare [Ed. - love it!]. Don't have at least a part-time job (in a state with 3.7% unemployment), forfeit your welfare.

2). Give the police the tools they need -- including leeway to do their job. The 2nd largest department should not be internal affairs. Take some cops out of that department and get them on the streets. I'm not saying tolerate violations of fundamental rights. Just don't make police officers feel like every arrest of a minority is an exercise in racial profiling.

Even though he has received some ribbing for it, this is where I credit chief McManus for breaking down some of the us against them barriers.

3). Treat gangs as organized crime (which is what they are) or possibly even terrorist organizations. Use RICO. Target their leadership. If a gang commits violence hold the leadership responsible.

Nordeaster Homepage 04.17.06 - 11:03 am

There's an answer for you, Anonymous. The chances of it being implemented in the city are close to nil, but if semi-reformed liberals like yourself make some noise downtown, who knows?

Meanwhile, Mayor Rybak has his own solutions for unruly downtown visitors:

Rybak said it is important that citizens help when they can to prevent unruly behavior.

”We need everybody to police each other -- stop giving to panhandlers, stop your friends acting wild on the street, and if they are going to try and take a leak out on the street, tell them that's out of line,” the mayor said.

Rybak says the police presence in downtown and uptown on weekends will continue to grow, and that police will have even less patience with bad behavior [Ed. - This implies they have some patience with bad behavior - I hope not!].

“We are not going to tolerate people going out on the street and having lewd behavior,” he continues. “They will have a tough response from police.”

We'll see how that works for you, Mr. Mayor.

Culture Of Crime?

Channel 5 KSTP Eyewitness News has been investigating the extent of crime in the Uptown and Downtown Minneapolis entertainment areas since the brutal slayings of Michael Zebuhr and Alan Reitter. On its 10pm newscast Thursday night, they showed video taken from both areas, showing activity that goes unreported in the local MSM.

The report appears to focus on the "after-bar" crowds, with a lot of drunken fighting and so on. One might say that that kind of behavior is standard and expected in an entertainment district that features bars and drinking, but, as they note, there are also real crimes such as drug dealing, and anti-social behavior such as urinating in public.

One of the trends I've noticed over the last year or so is crimes which occur just out of the "mainstream" entertainment areas. A person might conclude their bar time and walk through parking lots or down darker sidewalks to their vehicle, only to get jumped and mugged, or worse.

A prime example of this is the beating death of a young father, Thomas Dahl, who found himself in the scenario I described above. He paid with his life, as I report in this 11/5/05 post: "Violence continues to plague Minneapolis".

KSTP News details some of the activity that sets up the potential for real trouble: "EXCLUSIVE: Just how safe is Minneapolis?".

Nearly two months have passed since two high-profile shootings in Minneapolis, and 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS went undercover to investigate just how safe the city really is.

The investigation witnessed a disturbing side of Minnesota’s largest city, but also an important police effort against crime that is largely unnoticed.

Recall that Alan Reitter's murder happened at approximately 11:30pm, and Mr. Zebuhr's much earlier. It's the "prime time" crime that is most disturbing, because you can't shrug it off and say that the people who are out in the middle of the night should expect trouble. Trouble came to these two men in particular when they were doing what any of us might have been.

Is there a general disorder in the entertainment areas?

The statistics reveal that certain crimes have occurred more often than at this time last year.

Two people have been murdered in Uptown already this year, while no murders were committed in he neighborhood last year. The area has seen six robberies so far, compared to 17 for all of 2005.

One person has been murdered in Downtown, the same as last year, but the neighborhood has seen 24 robberies, compared with 50 during all of last year.

Our investigation adds other concerns to those statistics, as we witnessed numerous instances of other crimes and disturbing behaviors.

The numbers throughout the city are up from last year, and last year was no picnic.

Our cameras captured numerous fights between groups of people, one actually up against the side of our news van.

These fights often involved intoxicated individuals who were not easily controlled by police.

“You (expletive) slug me I'll kick your (expletive)!" said one officer to a threatening man, as he and fellow officers tried to stop a fight.

Minneapolis Sergeant Dean Christiansen supervises the night shift in the first precinct, and says unruly behavior usually starts around midnight.

These behavior patterns can invite criminal intent, and criminals feel comfortable sitting on the fringes waiting for victims.

We also captured drug deals, a man urinating in a parking lot, a woman vomiting on a street corner and aggressive panhandlers.

But what was most obvious was the police presence, as everywhere our cameras looked we saw police walking, driving, standing and just keeping watch.

"Presence is the big thing out here, to have the police out here, because that's going to deter the majority of the crime,” Christiansen says.

Police presence is great, but the additional funding won't last forever. There are too many hardcore criminals roaming the streets of the city, and too many gangbangers looking for an excuse to get violent. When the bad people meet the good people, bad things happen.

The goal is to eliminate the incentives for criminals to work their trade in our city and state. The current city leadership can't or won't take care of the "root problems", and Minneapolis will suffer until someone steps up and takes control.

Thanks to KSTP Eyewitness News for their good reporting of this story as well as many others not covered in the Red Star and other local dead tree MSM over the last year.