Recent content from Liz Sawyer
Hennepin Juvenile Detention Center vows to boost staff, retrain officers to fix violations
County Commissioner Angela Conley condemned the practice of isolating kids as 'cruel and unusual punishment' and questioned why county operators were not finding 'tangible solutions.'
Judge rules Minneapolis police 'coaching' records not public, sends narrow case to trial
The decision comes after a watchdog group waged a three-year legal battle to expose how the police force used the secretive coaching process.
Report: Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center used unwarranted seclusion amid staffing shortage
A state inspector found that the Hennepin County facility locked teens in their rooms for long stretches without cause, denied access to programming and conducted lax wellness checks.
Officials ID man fatally shot at a Minneapolis gas station this week
The shooting occurred at a North Side location that has drawn a lot of police attention this year.
Midday shooting on Minneapolis street leaves man dead, police hunting for gunman
Police Chief Brian O'Hara called the fatal shooting outside a gas station in the middle of the day, "unacceptable and shocking."
Phillip Murphy, Minneapolis citizen journalist who documented the North Side, dies at 61
His Facebook group True North Minneapolis was a hub of community discourse.
Minneapolis police chief said he contemplated his future during fallout from neighborhood shooting
Activists continue to call for Chief Brian O'Hara's firing over the department's handling of a violent neighbor dispute. But O'Hara says he is committed to fulfilling his three-year term and has "no intention of turning my back" on the police force.
Under President Trump, is Minneapolis' pending consent decree with the DOJ dead?
A consent decree is one of the federal government's most aggressive tools for reining in police departments found to be violating the U.S. Constitution. Republican presidents rarely pursue them. Trump killed Chicago's after assuming his first term in office.
Before shooting, John Sawchak terrorized south Minneapolis neighbors for more than 15 years
More than a decade before allegedly shooting and critically wounding Davis Moturi, records show Sawchak repeatedly harassed tenants and ran a Black family out of their home.
Minneapolis police arrest man charged with shooting neighbor who reported many threats
SWAT negotiators tried to communicate with John H. Sawchak and eventually breached his home Sunday night during a standoff that bled into Monday morning, shortly after Chief Brian O'Hara admitted to failing the victim.
One dead after man shoots gun from Mpls. apartment, then flees and shoots two people near Willmar
Police have yet to identify the suspect, who is in custody, or any of the victims.
Boy, 3, fatally shot inside northeast Minneapolis apartment
Police have not said whether they believe the shooting was accidental or intentional.
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Minnesota kids with mental health needs cycle through juvenile justice system, often without options
Youth ruled incompetent to stand trial cannot legally be housed in juvenile detention centers, but they frequently can't find beds at residential treatment facilities.
Minneapolis gunshot victim, 25, dies months later
Johnny Birzavi Sanchez Sanchez was shot on the south side in late July, while on a motorcycle.
Video: Boy, 10, jailed and charged with stealing car, driving through crowded Minneapolis playground
His mother tells the Star Tribune that she doesn't know why her son steals cars but blames older kids in the neighborhood.
Lawsuit: Minneapolis police projectile struck Woodbury man in skull, causing traumatic brain injury, during 2020 unrest
Mason Hermann, then 20, said he was peacefully protesting in front of the Third Precinct when hit with a rubber-coated bullet without warning.
After bloody stretch, Whittier neighborhood leads Minneapolis in gun violence
The diverse community feels neglected amid a surge of shootings and robberies that has disproportionately affected immigrant residents.
Minneapolis police swear in first Somali woman and the first noncitizen officer in joyful graduation
Officers Ikran Mohamed, 23, and Lesly Vera, 27, make history among latest wave of diverse recruits seeking to replenish depleted police force.
Minneapolis council approves limited expansion of gunshot detection system
In a 13-0 vote, the City Council signed off on a two-year contract renewal with ShotSpotter that spreads acoustic sensors into parts of Loring Park and Whittier.
Minneapolis police sergeant accused of stalking and harassing co-worker
Sgt. Gordon Blackey, once a security guard to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, allegedly admitted to tracking the woman's movements in her vehicle, according to a criminal complaint.
Minneapolis police chief fired officer who left his post to seek sex act during overnight shift
The six-year veteran admitted to exchanging erotic texts and arranging multiple hookups in 2022 with a woman outside of his patrol area, while on duty and in uniform.
Consent decree monitor publishes road map for Minneapolis police reforms
City, MDHR have asked the court to push back initial deadlines because of delay in selecting Effective Law Enforcement for All, the nonprofit overseeing court-mandated reform efforts. That request is still pending.
Fact check: Did Tim Walz 'let rioters burn down Minneapolis'?
The Trump campaign is hammering this line of attack in new ads. Through videos, interviews and other public documents, the Star Tribune pieced together a timeline of the governor's response to the riots.
Minneapolis City Council considers smaller expansion of ShotSpotter gunshot detection system
A council committee agreed to sign off on a 2-year contract renewal that expands the acoustic gunshot detection system by 0.6 miles, into parts of Loring Park and Whittier.
Man who fired at Minneapolis park police officer last fall faces upgraded attempted murder charges
Muhyedin Abdirahman, 25, was slated for a jury trial this week in the attack on park police officer Karl Zabinski, who was not injured in an exchange of gunfire.
Myon Burrell convicted of felony drug, weapons charges related to 2023 Robbinsdale traffic stop
His legal team seeks to challenge the legality of the initial police stop and search of his vehicle before the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Minneapolis police herald recruitment efforts as applications up 45% compared to last year
For the first time since 2018, MPD is expected to end the year with more sworn officers than it started with.
Amid allegations of illegal practices, Minneapolis will start auditing violence interrupter groups
But an attorney for the plaintiff said in court Wednesday that he isn't dropping the lawsuit yet, asking a Hennepin County judge first to rule the city structurally fails to abide by state public records law.
Shooting of 4 children in stolen car raises familiar alarm in Minneapolis
Two of the children ages 11 to 13 suffered serious injuries, including paralysis and concerns over brain swelling.
Sources: Metro Transit chief under investigation for hostile workplace allegations
Multiple complaints by staff prompted an internal investigation this spring, but Morales was not placed on administrative leave until last Friday.
Minneapolis police are seeking to expand ShotSpotter. Skeptics want proof it works.
Law enforcement credits the gunshot detection system with reducing response times, aiding investigations and tracking automatic gunfire. Critics claim it's unreliable and leads to overpolicing.
Defamation lawsuit by fired Minneapolis police officer moves toward trial
Judge ruled that immunity does not apply to "a non-elected police chief."
Minnesota Police Association files ethics complaint against Mary Moriarty in trooper case
The statewide law enforcement trade group accuses Mary Moriarty of a politically motivated prosecution in pursuing murder charges against state trooper Ryan Londregan.
Minneapolis City Council approves police union contract
The contract includes historic raises, amounting to 21.7% over three years, and will make Minneapolis police among the top five highest-paid in the state.
Mother of mastermind behind home invasion that killed Zaria McKeever charged as an accomplice
The 47-year-old Minneapolis woman helped harbor one of the teenage shooters in her hotel room and lied to police about her knowledge of the 2022 break-in after the fact, charges say.
Civilian oversight chair resigns, marking third vacancy on police review board
City Council has nominated two candidates to fill current openings, but applications to join the Community Commission on Police Oversight are way down.
Proposed Mpls. police contract with historic pay raises draws strong views from residents
Supporters and detractors of the proposed contract were outspoken at the city's second public hearing.
More details emerge in gun battle that killed 2 officers, EMT in Burnsville
The Dakota County Attorney determined that police were "legally justified" in firing on Shannon Gooden, who killed himself while holed up in the house with several children.
Judge weighs arguments on whether Minneapolis broke law in secretive police 'coaching'
Beyond the legal argument, the public records lawsuit has opened a window into the city's convoluted coaching process.
Public weighs in as City Council considers proposed Minneapolis police contract, pay raises
The 22% raises are critical to recruitment and retention, mayor and chief say. Opponents say the department still lacks accountability.
Slain Minneapolis officer Jamal Mitchell's last words: 'Who shot you?'
City officials released body camera footage from two recent deadly police shootings. Video showed an assailant pull a gun on Jamal Mitchell without warning as the officer approached to tend his wounds.
911 calls reveal chaotic mass shooting scene in Minneapolis: 'I got shot'
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara says he will temporarily withhold body camera video from the incident — at the request of the BCA — because it may interfere with the ongoing investigation.
Jamal Mitchell 1988-2024
A true peacekeeper with a "megawatt" smile, Mitchell joined the police force to build community bridges.
Minneapolis police union votes to approve tentative contract for historic 21.7% pay raise
Rank-and-file members voted to ratify the new contract; accord still requires City Council approval.
Walz planned to remove Moriarty from state trooper murder prosecution
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said rumors over pulling her from the case didn't factor into her decision to drop murder charges.
Police officer, civilian and shooter dead, and responders wounded in Minneapolis shooting
Jamal Mitchell was 'ambushed' while responding to a shooting at an apartment building in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue, making him the first Minneapolis police officer to be shot and killed in the line of duty in more than 20 years.
Despite years of denial, Mpls. police used secretive process for serious misconduct
City officials have repeatedly claimed they only use coaching for the lowest-level policy violations. New court documents show that's not true.
Discrepancies in how coaching is used
Explanations by city officials on coaching differ from how it was actually used in some cases.
Appeals court throws out conviction in death of North football star Deshaun Hill Jr.
Panel says incriminating statements were illegally collected by law enforcement. County Attorney's Office says it's "deeply disappointed" in the ruling.
Minneapolis' $18M crime prevention effort questioned after contracts unpaid
The city stopped paying violence interrupters with little explanation.
Man sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempted murder in shooting of Minneapolis police officer
Frederick Davis Jr., 19, admitted to firing a dozen shots at the unmarked vehicle following him, but denied knowingly targeting police.
Trooper pleads not guilty on murder, manslaughter charges; trial set for September
The trial for Ryan Londregan is slated to begin Sept. 9 and last about three weeks, including jury selection.
Teen who gunned down Zaria McKeever during home invasion sentenced to 10 years in prison
The murder case of 15-year-old Foday Kamara became a flashpoint in how the criminal justice system should punish juveniles accused of violent crimes.
Amid unsolved Minneapolis homicides, families await justice
A deadly three-year period at the height of the pandemic has left Minneapolis with the most open homicide cases in at least three decades.
Hennepin County Attorney inks contract with D.C. law firm to prosecute trooper Londregan case
The agreement includes an initial $1 million budget cap for legal services, billed at a blended rate of $850 per hour.
Two Minneapolis police officers earn Medal of Valor for daring water rescue of 4-year-old boy
A third officer earned a Lifesaving Award for his role in the emergency response last November.
Supporters, detractors briefly face off as trooper makes court appearance
Ryan Londregan is charged in the shooting death of Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop last summer.
Minneapolis reaches $150k settlement with eyewitness of George Floyd's murder
Donald Williams, a former MMA fighter, has several criminal cases pending.
Records: Former Minneapolis police oversight head disparaged women, threatened staff
John Jefferson, a retired FBI agent, resigned in February after a lengthy HR investigation into numerous allegations, including his decision to reenact police restraint holds on civilian staff without warning or consent.
Orchestrator of Zaria McKeever killing gets life in prison
In a packed courtroom punctuated with emotion, the man who orchestrated the home invasion and killing of his ex-girlfriend by a pair of teenage brothers was sentenced to life in prison.
Judge: Minnesota state trooper's defense may call use-of-force expert for testimony
Judge Tamara Garcia ruled that the defense made a "plausible argument" that Jeffrey Noble's findings are relevant to the murder case, but denied a request to depose him ahead of an April 29 hearing.
Activists demand Minneapolis police contract negotiations be open to the public
They criticized city officials for agreeing to closed-door mediation to resolve long-expired police union contract.
Mpls. officers reprimanded for misconduct in wake of George Floyd's murder
Newly published discipline reports reveal that former chiefs moved to terminate two officers for excessive force and suspended others for failing to uphold department policy.
Memo: Use-of-force expert in Minnesota state trooper case gave no final opinion in motorist's fatal shooting
Jeffrey Noble speculated that trooper Ryan Londregan acted as a "reasonable officer" would have to protect his partner, but refrained from offering a final opinion on whether deadly force was necessary.
L.A. Times journalists attacked by Minnesota State Patrol reach $1.2M settlement
The Los Angeles Times journalists argued in their lawsuit that their press credentials were clearly visible when troopers attacked them as they covered the aftermath of George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis.
Teen who killed Zaria McKeever enters guilty plea, will serve 10-year term
He agreed to testify against the man charged with plotting the home invasion.
Evidence under debate as Minnesota state trooper charged in motorist's killing appears in court
Trooper Ryan Londregan's attorneys want records from a prosecution expert. Prosecutors say they've handed over all relevant information.
Teen accused in woman's slaying now charged as adult; plea deal on table
The charges stem from a botched break-in at a Brooklyn Park apartment complex in 2022. Attorney General Keith Ellison's office later took over the case from the Hennepin County Attorney.
Two members of Minneapolis civilian oversight commission abruptly resign
The departures are the latest fallout after recent terminations, resignations.
An errant bullet nearly killed her 17 years ago. But Vernice Hall was determined to live.
At age 12, an errant bullet robbed Vernice Hall of a normal life. For years, she continued to fight.
Decades of turmoil mark legacy of civilian police oversight in Minneapolis
City operations director commits to making oversight work after the termination of one official and the departure of another.
Man shot dead in north Minneapolis drive-by shooting
The man was shot several times at about 4:30 p.m. and died at the scene.
'Nothing could be more honorable': Fallen Burnsville police, firefighter mourned in massive ceremony
Thousands attended in person and watched the livestream sending off the first responders.
Burnsville responders mourned: 'May you forever rest in peace'
The BCA said 10,000 people filled Grace Church, hundreds more attended Prince of Peace Lutheran Church to watch the 2-hour service. More than 20,000 watched the livestream.
Four people shot in Minneapolis Tuesday afternoon; 1 dead, 1 critical
A mass shooting took place at a nearby market last August.
