Minneapolis, MN

Court rules Amir Locke civil rights lawsuit can proceed against Minneapolis, officer who killed him

Published

6 months ago

July 9, 2024

Court rules Amir Locke civil rights lawsuit can proceed against Minneapolis, officer who killed him

MINNEAPOLIS — The family of Amir Locke, the 22-year-old man fatally shot by police during a no-knock raid inside a downtown Minneapolis apartment building in 2022, says their civil lawsuit against the city will proceed.

On Monday, the United States District Court denied the City of Minneapolis’ motion to dismiss the wrongful death suit filed last year by Locke’s parents, Karen Wells and Andre Locke. The suit accuses the city and officer Mark Hanneman of violating Locke’s civil rights.

The court also ruled that Hanneman wasn’t entitled to qualified immunity.

The court’s ruling emphasized “the plausibility of the plaintiffs’ claims that Officer Hanneman’s use of deadly force violated Amir Locke’s Fourth Amendment rights and that the City of Minneapolis maintained unconstitutional policies that contributed to Locke’s death.”

The court added that footage of the deadly raid didn’t contradict the allegations made by Locke’s family in the lawsuit, and the videos “plausibly” show Locke “did not point the firearm at officers or use the weapon in a menacing way and that Amir was attempting to comply with officers’ commands.”

The lawsuit also accuses the Minneapolis Police Department of “discriminatory, race-based policing” — including excessive force and no-knock warrants — that disproportionately target people of color, citing data from a Minnesota Department of Human Rights report.

Locke’s shooting death

Amir Locke was killed on the morning of Feb. 2, 2022, by Hanneman, during a SWAT team-led search warrant execution involving Locke’s cousin inside Bolero Flats apartments.

Police searched three apartment units connected to Mekhi Speed and his family. Locke, who was not listed on the warrant, was asleep on a couch in Speed’s brother’s unit.

Body camera footage shows officers unlock the apartment’s door and enter with guns drawn before yelling, “police” and “search warrant.”

Locke is seen sitting up while wrapped in a blanket, holding a handgun that his family says was legally purchased. Hanneman shoots Locke three times. The entire encounter lasts only about 10 seconds.

Amir Locke

WCCO

The searches were connected to Speed’s involvement in the marijuana-sale-related shooting death of Otis Elder days earlier in St. Paul. Speed, who wasn’t at Bolero Flats that morning, was charged with second-degree murder soon after Locke’s death. He was convicted that July and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

No charges filed against Hanneman

In April 2022, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced their offices would not bring any criminal charges against Hanneman, citing “insufficient admissible evidence.”

“Specifically, the State would be unable to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt any of the elements of Minnesota’s use-of-deadly-force statute that authorizes the use of force by Officer Hanneman,” their joint statement read. “Nor would the State be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt a criminal charge against any other officer involved in the decision-making that led to the death of Amir Locke.”

Wells called the decision “disgusting.”

“Be prepared for this family, because every time you take a step, we’re going to be right behind you. This is not over,” Wells said.

Locke’s family fights for ban of no-knock warrants

Wells and the rest of her family have been pushing for a statewide ban against no-knock warrants.

“This has got to stop,” she told WCCO in 2023. “Amir will be the face of banning no-knock warrants. He will not die in vain.”

While campaigning in 2021, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey made claims that he banned the practice. Months later, after winning a second term, Frey admitted that his claim was misleading, and the policy change he had made only required police to announce their presence before entering a residence.

“Language became more casual, including my own, which did not reflect the necessary precision or nuance. And I own that,” Frey said.

Weeks after Locke’s killing, Frey ordered police to limit the use of no-knock warrants with exceptions. Officers are now required to wait 20 seconds after announcing their presence for warrant searches, and 30 seconds for searches executed between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Frey also ordered the creation of a risk classification and evaluation system for warrants.

Stephen Swanson

Stephen Swanson is a web producer at CBS Minnesota. A 21-year station veteran, Stephen was a floor director for a decade before moving to the newsroom, where he focuses on general assignment reporting.

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Minneapolis, MN

Isles Bun and Coffee in Minneapolis named as having “world’s best cinnamon rolls”

Published

3 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Isles Bun and Coffee in Minneapolis named as having “world’s best cinnamon rolls”

Isles Bun and Coffee honored for having “World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls”

00:56

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota is known as the state of hockey, but some Twin Cities cinnamon rolls are also putting the state on the map.

Sweet lovers happily waited in line outside of Isles Bun and Coffee in Minneapolis.

They were voted by “World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls” as having the world’s best for 2024.

The award comes after thousands of submissions and a visit by the website. Fans say even in frigid temps, it’s worth the wait.

“These days any time you find a bakery thats making it in house with such high quality ingredients, it’s a delicious product you can tell it’s fresh,” said Stacy Carlson.

“We’re cinnamon roll fans, but we typically only eat Pillsbury so this is about to change our life, right?” said Emily Pease.

However, World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls says the unsung hero at Isle Buns are the puppy dog tails. They’re made with the ends of cinnamon roll dough.

The organization has been naming the World’s Best Cinnamon Roll since 2018.

WCCO Staff

The WCCO Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WCCO.com.

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Minneapolis, MN

Vikings buy fans nearly $2 million worth of tickets for Lions game

Published

11 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Vikings buy fans nearly million worth of tickets for Lions game

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Aaron Jones #33 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Some Minnesota Vikings fans are getting a chance to see them face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Sunday night for a significantly lower price after the Vikings’ ownership group made a big purchase.

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: “I won’t be able to sleep Saturday’

Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson spoke Thursday from TCO Performance Center about facing the Detroit Lions on Sunday for the NFC North Division title and No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Vikings buy tickets for fans

What we know: Vikings season ticket holders, some staff and stake-holders got an email on Thursday announcing the opportunity to pick up some discounted tickets for the Vikings versus Lions game in Detroit Sunday night.

The email said, “We’re excited to share that a limited number of tickets are now available for the Vikings vs. Lions game this Sunday, January 5, in Detroit! As a valued Season Ticket Member, we want to offer you the opportunity to purchase lower level seats for Sunday night’s game.”

The message then explains that the limited number of seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, before adding that the tickets “are intended to be used by Vikings fans and not to be positioned for resale or sold on the secondary market.”

Sources confirmed that in the days leading up to the game, the Vikings bought about 1,900 tickets on the secondary market for about $1,000 each, for a total just under $2 million, according to Sports Illustrated.

The Vikings then offered a significantly lower price to season ticket holders, with some sold for as little as $200.

READ MORE: Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: ‘I won’t be able to sleep Saturday’

Sports Illustrated writer Albert Breer reports the Lions contacted league officials and were told “that the Vikings didn’t break any rules in the process of pulling this off.”

The tickets are also reportedly for seats that are behind the visiting team bench zone at Ford Field, cutting into the number of Detroit fans in the stadium and potentially helping the Vikings communicate on the sideline.

What they’re saying: Minnesota Vikings spokesman Jeff Anderson shared this statement: “Given the uniqueness of this game, we wanted to offer our stakeholders – staff, family, Season Ticket Members and team partners – an opportunity to attend.”

Secondary ticket market

The other side: Sports Illustrated reported one instance that “got the Lions’ attention” when one ticket holder sold their seat on the secondary market for $724.

That buyer then sold the ticket to Advantage Tickets, which is a company that reportedly worked with the Vikings, for $1,200. The Vikings then sold the ticket to a season ticket holder for $300, who then sold it on the secondary market for $690. Sports Illustrated said the buyer could be a broker, because the ticket was back on the market on Saturday.

Pivotal game ahead

Why it matters: Whoever wins the game Sunday night will win the NFC North title and secure the No. 1 seed as well as home-field advantage through the playoffs. The loser is the No. 5 seed with a 14-3 record, and will be on the road for Wild Card Weekend.

The Source: Statements and emails from the Minnesota Vikings and a report from Sports Illustrated.

Minnesota VikingsSportsDetroit

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Minneapolis, MN

Ohio State visits Minnesota after Garcia’s 20-point game – WTOP News

Published

19 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Ohio State Buckeyes (9-5, 1-2 Big Ten) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-6, 0-3 Big Ten) Minneapolis; Monday, 9 p.m. EST…

Ohio State Buckeyes (9-5, 1-2 Big Ten) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-6, 0-3 Big Ten)

Minneapolis; Monday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota hosts Ohio State after Dawson Garcia scored 20 points in Minnesota’s 81-61 loss to the Purdue Boilermakers.

The Golden Gophers are 8-3 on their home court. Minnesota has a 2-2 record in one-possession games.

The Buckeyes are 1-2 in conference matchups. Ohio State is seventh in the Big Ten scoring 81.3 points per game and is shooting 49.5%.

Minnesota scores 67.4 points per game, 2.4 fewer points than the 69.8 Ohio State gives up. Ohio State has shot at a 49.5% clip from the field this season, 6.9 percentage points higher than the 42.6% shooting opponents of Minnesota have averaged.

The Golden Gophers and Buckeyes meet Monday for the first time in conference play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Lu’Cye Patterson is averaging 10 points and 3.9 assists for the Golden Gophers.

Bruce Thornton is averaging 16.9 points and 4.6 assists for the Buckeyes.

LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Gophers: 5-5, averaging 68.6 points, 30.8 rebounds, 16.4 assists, 5.7 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.0 points per game.

Buckeyes: 6-4, averaging 83.3 points, 30.0 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 50.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.0 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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