Connect with us

Minneapolis, MN

Dinkytown crime rate has improved over the last few months

Published

on

Dinkytown crime rate has improved over the last few months


MINNEAPOLIS — After concerns over crime in the area near the University of Minnesota campus in recent years, new data is showing improvement the last few months.

From the start of the school year through December, data from Minneapolis Police shows a 49 percent decrease in reported crimes in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood, which includes Dinkytown.

The drop has come in conjunction with the opening of UMN’s off-campus safety center, as well as the colder temperatures of winter.

300c342a-afe2-4fe2-8bdd-35fc24e643ea.jpg
Data shows reports of crime have gone down since the University opened a new safety center in September of 2024. 

Feelings of safety in Dinkytown hit a low point last summer when 20 people were arrested for shooting fireworks at cars, bystanders and police.

Advertisement

Now, students and recent alums tell WCCO they’re feeling more comfortable in the area.

“I’m a freshman, so I felt pretty safe honestly,” said Femi Abodunrin. “At the beginning of the year there were definitely a bit more crime alerts but since then, it’s gone down.”

Mathew Krelitz graduated last year.

“I think it probably has gotten safer,” he said. “When I did attend, I did witness some crimes on this block [near campus]. I spend the weekends here and I haven’t noticed that.”

MPD data shows the number of reported crimes in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood was 144 in September, then decreased to 133 in October, 81 in November and 73 in December.

Advertisement

September is when UMN opened its Dinkytown safety center for both police and students.

“This will reduce opportunities for some of the crimes we’ve seen that happen, but it will also give us a foothold in Dinkytown to start building stronger partnerships that we already have,” Nick Juarez with UMN’s Department of Public Safety said in August.

“When it’s later at night there’s definitely a few police cars that I see around, and I think it does make a difference,” Abodunrin said.

She knows it’s still important to be mindful and protect herself.

“If I have something that could be used as a weapon like a water bottle, I make sure I have it handy, or if it’s later at night, I just walk around with friends and not by myself,” Abodunrin said.

Advertisement

A spokesperson with UMN shared this statement: 

“Though there are many ways to define safety in our community, any positive statistical trends are a positive indicator of strong community safety efforts. Working in close partnership with the Minneapolis Police Department, the University and our Department of Public Safety have invested more in public safety in the Dinkytown area than ever before. These investments have included UMPD’s mutual aid expansion, creating the Dinkytown Alert notification system, and funding additional overtime shifts for UMPD officers to conduct visible patrols throughout the area. The Off-Campus Safety Center expanded on these previous investments. It’s become an accessible resource for University students, faculty and staff, as well as those working or socializing in Dinkytown. We look forward to continuing these programs in Dinkytown, and working closely with MPD, to keep our community safe.”

Advertisement



Source link

Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis construction workers call on developers to take stand against ICE

Published

on

Minneapolis construction workers call on developers to take stand against ICE


Construction workers in Minneapolis on Friday called for developers to demand that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave Minnesota and offer protections for their crews. Protesters at a separate demonstration on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis asked corporate businesses to end what they call cooperation with immigration enforcement.



Source link

Continue Reading

Minneapolis, MN

Fan behind Anthony Edwards’ orange bracelet has beaten cancer

Published

on

Fan behind Anthony Edwards’ orange bracelet has beaten cancer


The story behind Anthony Edwards wearing a bright orange bracelet since last season has received a positive development, after Timberwolves fans learned Luca Wright has beaten leukemia.

Anthony Edwards, Luca Wright connection

What we know:

Advertisement

Last January, the 6-year-old Minnesotan met “Ant” for the first time following a game against the Detroit Pistons, proclaiming him to be his favorite player, and asking him to wear a bracelet that symbolizes leukemia awareness, resilience and support for those affected. During the interaction, the fan had created a sign with a to-do list: “1. Beat Cancer. 2. Be The Next MJ.”

Leukemia is a type of cancer that spreads throughout the bloodstream, infecting bone marrow and a person’s lymphatic system by rapid production of abnormal white blood cells that can’t fight infection.

Advertisement

Since then, the Wolves’ MVP has worn a bracelet that proclaims, “Love Like Luca” on it for every game he has played, vowing to wear it “until he hangs up his sneakers.”

Ant has gone on to explain how the gesture connected with him given that he lost both his mother, Yvette, and grandmother, Shirley, to cancer when he was 14 years old. The No. 5 jersey he wears currently is a tribute to them both.

Luca bracelet latest

Advertisement

Dig deeper:

More than a year later, Wolves fans have received the update they hoped for – now 7-year-old Luca has beaten his cancer.

What’s next:

Advertisement

Ant has since responded to the news with his own social media video, calling it “God’s gift” and saying, “Let’s do this Luca.”

No word yet on whether he intends to keep wearing the bracelet, though he’s previously said he has a stash of replacements near the team bench should one ever be broken.

Advertisement

The Source: Information provided by the Minnesota Timberwolves public relations department.

Minnesota TimberwolvesNBASportsPeopleEntertainment



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Minneapolis, MN

Family of Minneapolis brothers killed by cousin says their deaths were preventable:

Published

on

Family of Minneapolis brothers killed by cousin says their deaths were preventable:


A Minneapolis family is struggling to make sense of a tragedy that has left them heartbroken. 

Family tells WCCO 14-year-old Xavier Barnett and 23-year-old Akwame Stewart were killed Monday.

The brothers were very different, but equally loved. Barnett was a good student and athlete. Stewart was a painter, creative and thoughtful. Two brothers, loved and full of promise, gone. 

Police say the accused shooter is their cousin, 23-year-old Eddie Duncan.

Advertisement

Court records show Duncan was released on bail Monday on charges of fleeing law enforcement and possession of a gun modified with an “auto sear switch.”

Court records also show Duncan was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation, but not until next month, on March 24.

Deasia Freeman, Barnett and Stewart’s sister, says this loss could have been prevented. 

“They all failed us. We got two innocent lives gone for no reason. Didn’t do nothing to nobody,” Freeman said.

Family members say the system and Duncan’s family let them down.

Advertisement

Freeman says Duncan’s family saw the warning signs and still bailed him out

“If you knew this man was thinking like this, y’all should have kept him in there and he should not even have bail,” she said. 

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says they noted Duncan was a public safety risk and asked for a high bail, much higher than a typical request. 

“In Minnesota, there is a constitutional right to bail, and the bail amount is set by the Court. Our office noted a public safety risk with Mr. Duncan and asked the judge to set bail at $70,000, or $35,000 with conditions; both of which are higher than we would typically request in this scenario. The judge set bail in that amount. Mr. Duncan posted $35,000 bail with conditions of release, as is allowed under the Minnesota Constitution, and was released from custody. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by yesterday’s violence. This was a terrible tragedy for this family and our community,” a spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said.

For Freeman and her family, the hardest part isn’t just the legal process but living each day without their brothers. 

Advertisement

Even in the heartbreak, she says the memories of the good days, the laughter and love they shared will carry them through.

“I wish I could get just one more phone call from them asking me where I’m at,” Freeman said as tears rolled down her face. 

Court records confirm Duncan left the scene of the crime and fled to nearby Brooklyn Center. There, a search warrant says Duncan “fired a gun at officers, striking two squads,” when police arrived. That’s when officers returned fire, shooting and killing him.

Three officers have been placed on critical incident leave as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension leads the investigation into Duncan’s fatal shooting.

Advertisement



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending