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Christina Saint Louis

Reporter | Minneapolis Public Safety

Christina Saint Louis is the Minneapolis public safety reporter for the Star Tribune.

Recent content from Christina Saint Louis
After Jennifer Magee, left, couldn’t find hypoallergenic infant formula to buy with her WIC benefits during the nationwide shortage, her soon-to-be

'We're flying through formula': Nationwide shortage hurts rural families on WIC

Constraints on federal assistance program that prevent recipients from using benefits to buy formula across state lines weigh on families as nationwide formula shortage drags on.
Peggy Bellecourt

Peggy Bellecourt, a leader of the American Indian Movement, dies at 78

Bellecourt co-founded the movement in 1968 with a small group that included her husband, Clyde Bellecourt, who died earlier this year.
Susan Spiller was killed in a home invasion July 16, 2015.

Brooklyn Park man guilty of murder in 2015 slaying of Minneapolis activist in her home

He was 14 at the time of the murder.
Kelly Metzler, a teacher at Wilder, joined around 200 Minneapolis teachers and supporters picketing near their school during the strike.

Mpls. teachers approve contract, classes will resume Tuesday

Teachers and support staff will return to work Monday while the district's 28,700 students will return to classes Tuesday.
Anton Lazzaro

Lazzaro appears in court with new legal team, 7 months after federal sex trafficking charges

Previous counsel was fired last month.

Person found dead in Brooklyn Park creek

Brooklyn Park police are investigating the death.
Video surveillance footage shows the moment a Minneapolis police squad slammed into the driver’s side of an SUV driven by bystander Leneal Frazier d

No decision on former Minneapolis officer's motion to dismiss charges in motorist's death

Brian Cummings faces charges in the death of motorist Leneal Frazier.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Monday proposed a permanent ban on the use of no-knock warrants by Minneapolis police.

Frey proposes a permanent ban on use of no-knock warrants

The announcement comes nearly six weeks after a Minneapolis police officer fatally shot Amir Locke, 22, during such a search at a downtown apartment. Locke was not named on the warrant.
Michael Robert Solomon

Minnesota 'Boogaloo Bois' member who pleaded guilty to weapons plot sentenced to 3 years

He is one of four in the loosely knit anti-government group to be prosecuted in Minnesota.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman addressed the rise of crime in the city and the efforts to recruit police officer

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey unveils police chief search committee

His office expects the search to be completed by summer 2022.
Police investigated near a broken piece of fencing at the home where a Ramsey County deputy in his squad SUV fatally struck Troy Allen Engstrom, 48, i

Ramsey County deputy cleared in fatal collision

The deputy fatally stuck an armed 48-year-old with a squad SUV after the man fired shots at officers.
Police responded after a report of a weapon at Burnsville High School on Tuesday.

Police lift Burnsville High School lockdown after report of weapon on campus

The search began midday Tuesday.
Supporters of Ukraine gathered on the steps of the State Capitol to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine in St. Paul on Sunday.

Hundreds rally at Minnesota Capitol in support of Ukraine

Gov. Tim Walz called on other states to suspend contracts with Russian entities as Minnesota is doing, following his March 4 executive order.

Man dead after domestic stabbing in Minneapolis

A female relative also was wounded.

Two dead after crashes in central Minnesota

One passenger suffered life-threatening injuries.
George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, left, looked on as Floyd’s nephew Brandon Williams spoke to a group of Black men at City Hall in Minneapo

Black men gather in Minneapolis to demand justice for Amir Locke

They called for the firing of all officers involved in the warrant operation and either the resignation or firing of interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman.
Flower arrangements next to the casket at the memorial service for Deshaun Hill Jr.,15, Tuesday afternoon, February 22, 2022 at the Frank J. Lindquist

Community mourns North High's Hill as 'beyond a leader'

Hundreds gathered to honor Deshaun Hill Jr., considered a star athlete of the North Side and who died a day after he was shot near a bus stop at Penn Avenue and Golden Valley Road.

Community mourns North High student Deshaun Hill Jr.: 'He was beyond a leader'

Man dead after 'exchange of gunfire' with Eden Valley officer ID'd

Kirsten DeHaven, who was assaulted and carjacked in January, adjusts the mirror in their car as they sat for a portrait Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022 in sou

The cost of being carjacked isn't just financial

The aftershock of the crime continues to reverberate for victims.
Families of Black men killed by police in Minnesota demand justice for Amir Locke

Families of Black men killed by police in Minnesota demand justice for Amir Locke

Students march in solidarity, group lays out plans for change
Demonstrators listened to Toussaint Morrison    while gathered outside homes in the Cedar-Isles-Dean on Sunday night, February 6, 2022

Activists gather outside interim MPD chief's home to protest death of Amir Locke

Participants demanded the resignation of interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman.

Activists gather outside interim Minneapolis chief's home to protest death of Amir Locke

Minneapolis Police Interim Chief Amelia Huffman speaks to to the media as she introducers her new appointees, from left, Deputy Chief of Professional

Interim MPD chief announces administrative appointments

New leaders in internal affairs, recruitment and training

Interim MPD chief announces administrative appointments

Krisanne Marie Benjamin was arrested on Jan. 12.

Minneapolis woman sentenced to 8 years for carjackings

She pleaded guilty to a luxury carjacking.
Woman fatally stabbed at St. Paul apartment building

Woman fatally stabbed at St. Paul apartment building

It's the city's first homicide of the year.
Minneapolis public school students will shift to distance learning Monday because of the extreme cold.

Windchill, COVID cases push Mpls. schools to go online Monday

The district anticipates a reduced capacity to transport students in tomorrow's weather conditions.
Crystal Police Chief Stephanie Revering, right, and primary investigators Lt. Derrick Hacker, left, and Julie Severson, center, in the evidence room a

Hennepin County police chiefs: More accountability needed from prosecutors

They say violent offenders are getting off too easily amid a surge in crime.
Tabatha Lewis, mother of Arnell “AJ” Stewart, was overcome with emotion while speaking to the media Thursday. The family of Stewart, who was stabb

Family of man fatally stabbed over parking spot wants FBI to investigate as hate crime

Arnell Jermel Stewart was stabbed to death over a parking dispute.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo

Records: Minneapolis police sergeant demoted for workplace misconduct before leaving department

It is among several demotions made under Chief Arradondo, though they are not all reflected in the disciplinary decisions newly published online.
Hennepin County Child protection workers shown in 2017.

Mental health is a top concern for children entering Hennepin County foster care

It was among the top primary reasons children were placed in foster care in 2021, along with caretaker drug abuse and alleged physical abuse.
Matthew Saldivar in “A Christmas Carol” at the Guthrie Theater.

COVID forces Guthrie to cancel remaining performances of 'A Christmas Carol'

Tickets are being refunded.
Bryan Irving Mintz

St. Paul native Bryan Irving Mintz, who played violin with the greats, dies at 66

Fardoussa O. Abdillahi

St. Cloud mother faces additional murder charge in infant's death

The woman's lawyer indicates she will pursue a defense based on mental illness or cognitive impairment.
Woman fatally shot in south Minneapolis

Woman fatally shot in south Minneapolis

It is the city's 95th homicide of the year.

Authorities identify man shot near Eagan outlet mall

The man died at an area hospital.
Lt. Richard Zimmerman, the head of the Minneapolis Police Department’s homicide unit, spoke to a sergeant at the scene of a shooting on Washington A

Arrests for most violent and property crimes drop in Mpls.

Homicide arrests are up significantly, by contrast, in a sign Minneapolis police are focusing their resources.
A 911 operator answers emergency calls at a Minneapolis dispatch center.

Minneapolis launches program to deploy mental health responders

The city developed the pilot program as an alternative to police response.

Video shows Minneapolis officer's forceful arrest of Black man, 64

Officer was off-duty but working onsite at Aldi store.
Chauntyll Allen poses for a portrait at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 in Saint Paul, Minn.. Allen is a Saint Paul School Boar

Black women carry burden of local social justice activism

At City Hall, on school boards and in policing reform work, Black women are doing the often unheralded heavy-lifting to fix systems of inequality in Minnesota.
Police gathered en masse as protests continued at Minneapolis’ third police precinct headquarters on May 27, 2020.

Mpls. officer reprimanded for not reporting use of force after George Floyd killing

Departmental policy requires that officers report their uses of force, including the discharge of 40-mm rounds, which are often made of rubber, plastic or small beanbags.
Former Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, right, remembered his daughter Rachel, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2000. A photo of Rachel is held up

Lawmakers, advocates gather at Capitol to remember crash victims

Nearly 450 Minnesotans have died this year amid a spike in deadly road incidents.
573513721

Man charged in north Minneapolis shooting, attempted carjacking

Several bystanders pulled the man out of a woman's car at Cub Foods and detained him until police arrived.
A portion of Interstate 94 at Hwy. 280 was closed after a fatal crash on Sunday night.

Fatal crash in St. Paul closes stretch of eastbound I-94

573513685

State Patrol seeks driver of semi that seriously injured Becker County pedestrian

The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the incident.
Elsa Segura listened as her defense attorney Amanda Montgomery spoke before sentencing. Former Hennepin County probation officer, Elsa Segura was sent

Ex-probation officer gets life in prison for helping to plot Mpls. Realtor's murder

Bought phone to lure real estate agent to her death.

Ex-Hennepin County probation officer gets life in prison for helping to plot real estate agent's murder

Woman fatally struck by vehicle in Columbia Heights

She was struck while trying to cross Central Avenue.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo unveiled new changes to the deadly use of force policy .] Jerry Holt •Jerry.Holt@sta

MPD use-of-force data remain murky a year after changes

Minneapolis overhauled the thresholds for use of force by officers after the murder of George Floyd. But data available on the city's use-of-force dashboard remains incomplete, making it difficult to access the actual effect of the policy changes.
London Bean, 12, was a sixth-grader at Sojourner Truth Academy in Minneapolis. He was shot and killed recently after a dispute with another child. (fa

Teenager charged in fatal shooting of Mpls. boy, 12, turns himself in

Peaceful arrest made with pastor's help.

Man shot in Minneapolis, city's 81st homicide of 2021

It's the city's 81st homicide of the year.
This booking photo released by Sherburne County Jail shows Anton Lazzaro. Lazzaro, a prominent Minnesota GOP donor who is charged with multiple counts

Anton Lazzaro asks court for his Ferrari, cash back

His attorneys claim the seized property is no longer relevant to the case.
Man cleared of unknowingly firing at Minneapolis officers in self-defense files lawsuit

Man cleared of unknowingly firing at Minneapolis officers in self-defense files lawsuit

Jaleel Stallings was charged in the May 2020 incident and acquitted.

Two women who died in Hopkins crash identified

Both women died from their injuries two days after the vehicle crash.
573513159

Teen punched on camera by Minneapolis police officer sues, alleging excessive force

He was punched by Minneapolis police as a teenager, and it was caught on video.

Mpls. man's death from alleged summer arson ruled a homicide

Darrin Solomon was put into a medically-induced coma in June, and died in September.
Investigators processed the chaotic scene of a multiple shooting at the bar Truck Park in St. Paul, Minn., that happened after midnight on Sunday, Oct

Mass shooting in W. 7th St. bar shocks St. Paul; 3 arrested

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter described the shooting, which killed one and wounded at least 14, as "heartbreaking." Marquisha Wiley, 27, was killed. The three suspects arrested were among the wounded.
In July, the city awarded Canopy Mental Health & Consulting a two-year, $6 million contract to provide the professionals who would respond to mental o

Mpls., EMS officials disagreed on police-free mental health service calls

Mpls. and EMS officials disagreed on new mental health service.
House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler photographed at his home, Tuesday, October 5, 2021 in Golden Valley, MN. Winkler will announce his formal candidacy

DFL House leader Winkler to run for Hennepin County attorney

Ryan Winkler is seeking to succeed Mike Freeman, who is not seeking another term.
573512899

Minneapolis Civil Rights Department Director Imani Jaafar resigns

Imani Jaafar's resignation will mean that two city directorships are open.
573512891

Minneapolis Traffic Control to respond to overnight parking violations, not police

The city is testing out extended traffic control hours as an alternative to police response.
Police and BCA vehicles near a broken piece of fencing at a home at the intersection of Pinewood Ct. and CO RD H2 in Mounds View.

Authorities identify man run over by Ramsey deputy after he allegedly fired at squads in Mounds View

The 48-year-old was run over by police who had answered a domestic violence call.

Man, 62, fatally struck by limb while tree trimming with son in Wyoming

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including a LifeLink helicopter.
Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero.

State: Brooklyn Center police and Michaels discriminated against Black teen

The finding comes more than two years after arrest at store.
Police and BCA vehicles near a broken piece of fencing at a home at the intersection of Pinewood Ct. and CO RD H2 in Mounds View.

Suspect dead after confrontation with law enforcement in Mounds View

Man run over by police who had answered domestic violence call.

St. Paul man charged with murder in robbery-turned-slaying

'It wasn't supposed to go down like that,' suspect allegedly said.
573512652

At vigil for victims found slain in Wisconsin: 'We got each other'

The Minneapolis City Council’s 2020 Safety for All Plan uses money originally budgeted for the Police Department to fund alternative approaches to a

Rollout of program to send mental health responders to some police calls delayed

Man found shot to death in vehicle in south Minneapolis

His death is the city's 68th homicide of the year, according to a Star Tribune database.
Bullet holes in the windows of the Clientele Barber Shop. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com

Man dead after north Minneapolis barbershop shooting

Another man and a woman were wounded, police say.
A Hennepin County Sheriff's Deputy stood with community members at the edge of a pond in Rosland Park in Edina where the body of child was recovered T

Body of 2½-year-old girl recovered from Edina park pond a day after she was reported missing

"We don't believe she would go super far," the fire chief said.
573512146

Shrinking and busier Mpls. firefighter ranks raise concern

Call volumes remain high, but staffing is the smallest its been since 2013.

Authorities ID man found dead of gunshot wound in Minneapolis' North Loop

Minneapolis police found the 32-year-old slumped over in a vehicle.
573511932

Man shot and killed near I-94 and Dowling; interstate briefly closed