Minneapolis police are looking for a man who spray-painted over the city camera that would have captured a driver crashing into a parked car Sunday, killing 31-year-old Deona Knajdek. The car was blocking an intersection as part of the Winston Smith protests.
Police say the man climbed a pole in the area of W. Lake Street and S. Girard Avenue at 8:34 p.m. Sunday and spray-painted over the camera.
Three hours later Nicholas D. Kraus, 35, drove eastbound into a group of protesters, striking a car, which then hit Knadjek.
Kraus, who has a history of drunken driving and no license, is in the Hennepin County jail awaiting charges.
"This is the camera that would have caught the fatal crash Sunday evening, providing law enforcement and the County Attorney's Office with critical evidence in the prosecution of the suspect," police spokesman John Elder said in a news release.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or submit tips online at www.CrimeStoppersMN.org.
STAFF REPORT