Minneapolis, MN
Ex-Minneapolis officer faces sentencing on a state charge for his role in George Floyd’s killing
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The last former Minneapolis police officer to face sentencing in state court for his role in the killing of George Floyd will learn Monday whether he will spend additional time in prison.
Tou Thao has testified he merely served as a “human traffic cone” when he held back concerned bystanders who gathered as former Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, knelt on Floyd’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes while the Black man pleaded for his life on May 25, 2020.
A bystander video captured Floyd’s fading cries of “I can’t breathe.”
Floyd’s killing touched off protests worldwide and forced a national reckoning of police brutality and racism.
Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill found Thao guilty in May of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. In his 177-page ruling, Cahill said Thao’s actions separated Chauvin and two other former officers from the crowd, including a an emergency medical technician, allowing his colleagues to continue restraining Floyd and preventing bystanders from providing medical aid.
“There is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Thao’s actions were objectively unreasonable from the perspective of a reasonable police officer, when viewed under the totality of the circumstances,” Cahill wrote.
He concluded: “Thao’s actions were even more unreasonable in light of the fact that he was under a duty to intervene to stop the other officers’ excessive use of force and was trained to render medical aid.”
Thao rejected a plea bargain on the state charge, saying “it would be lying” to plead guilty when he didn’t think he was in the wrong. He instead agreed to let Cahill decide the case based on evidence from Chauvin’s 2021 murder trial and the federal civil rights trial in 2022 of Thao and former Officers Thomas Lane and J. Alexander.
That trial in federal court ended in convictions for all three. Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges instead of going to trial a second time, while Lane and Kueng pleaded guilty to state charges of aiding and abetting manslaughter.
Minnesota guidelines recommend a four-year sentence on the manslaughter count, which Thao would serve at the same time as his 3 1/2-year sentence for his federal civil rights conviction, which an appeals court upheld on Friday. But Cahill has some latitude and could hand down a sentence from 41 to 57 months.
Lane and Kueng received 3 and 3 1/2-year state sentences respectively, which they are serving concurrently with their federal sentences of 2 1/2 years and 3 years. Thao is Hmong American, while Kueng is Black and Lane is white.
Minnesota inmates generally serve two-thirds of their sentences in prison and one-third on parole. There is no parole in the federal system but inmates can shave time off their sentences with good behavior.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis man dies of fatal stab wound near bus shelter, suspect arrested
MINNEAPOLIS — A man is in custody after allegedly stabbing another man to death in Minneapolis.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, officers arrested a 58-year-old man for a fatal stabbing that occurred near a bus shelter at Nicollet Avenue and South Fifth Street.
A criminal complaint says that on Monday at approximately 11:52 p.m., Minneapolis police officers located a man described to be in his 30’s on the ground and bleeding from potentially life-threatening stab wounds.
Despite offering aid at the scene, the man later succumbed to his injuries on Friday at Hennepin Healthcare.
Police say they tracked the suspect’s movements on camera until he was located and arrested near Colfax Avenue an Lake Street at approximately 12:21 a.m.
The man as taken to Hennepin Healthcare for evaluation of an injury he sustained prior to his arrest. The man was booked into the Hennepin County Jail and later released pending charges from jail on Thursday.
Then, on Friday, the man was formally charged with first-degree assault and an arrest warrant was issued, said a criminal complaint. The man was arrested later that day and remains in police custody.
“I am grateful to the officers and investigators who worked quickly to bring justice for the victim and his family,” said O’Hara. “While nothing can bring back this man, I hope that our work brings some sense of justice for his family during this difficult time.”
Police are still investigating the cause of the stabbing.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis crash: Teniki Steward charged over fatal incident | Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
A devastating high-speed collision in Minneapolis has led to the deaths of two women and injuries to two others, prompting serious charges against Teniki Steward, a 38-year-old Minneapolis resident. The incident, which unfolded at the intersection of Emerson Avenue North and 26th Avenue North, has left the community grappling with the tragic loss and a renewed focus on road safety.
Details of the Incident
According to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Steward was behind the wheel of a Buick Enclave, allegedly traveling at excessive speeds and running multiple red lights before the fatal crash. Authorities report that she narrowly avoided a collision earlier at Emerson Avenue North and Broadway Avenue North. Tragically, moments later, her vehicle struck a Ford Explorer, killing both of its occupants:
- Ester Jean Fulks, 53 years old
- Rose Elaine Reece, 57 years old
The crash also injured a 17-year-old pedestrian waiting for a school bus and a passenger in Steward’s vehicle. Steward herself sustained injuries in the crash.
Background and Charges
Court documents reveal that Steward’s driver’s license had been revoked in November 2023 due to a failure to provide proof of insurance. At the time of the crash, she was operating a vehicle without a valid license, as confirmed by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty addressed the case, emphasizing the preventable nature of the tragedy. “This is another completely avoidable incident of a car being driven irresponsibly with disastrous consequences,” she stated.
Steward is now in custody and faces the following charges:
- Two counts of criminal vehicular homicide
- Two counts of criminal vehicular operation
If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in prison per count and fines of up to $20,000.
Community Impact and Ongoing Investigation
The crash has reignited discussions about reckless driving and public safety in Minneapolis. Local authorities and community leaders are urging drivers to prioritize safety and adhere to traffic laws to prevent similar tragedies.
The medical conditions of the injured victims have not been disclosed, and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash are ongoing.
A Call for Action
This heartbreaking incident underscores the devastating consequences of reckless driving. As the legal process unfolds, the Minneapolis community mourns the loss of two lives and hopes for justice and healing for all those affected.
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Minneapolis, MN
Red Dragon, beloved Uptown Minneapolis restaurant, closing after nearly half a century
MINNEAPOLIS — The menu offers plenty of options, but fans of the Red Dragon say they’ll miss how the restaurant really nourished their souls.
“It feels like family,” patron Kathleen Spitzer told WCCO. “Everybody — the servers and bartenders — are so nice. It feels like a home away from home.”
Red Dragon’s current owner, Phil Wong, said the restaurant and bar will shut down on Sunday after nearly 50 years in business; it first opened on Dec. 29, 1976.
“People love this place. They like to come here and drink and hang out,” Wong lamented. “I love them all. They show a lot of love to us and they enjoy our establishment.”
According to Wong, 73, finances and his longevity were contributing factors. The former engineer took over the business from his brother in 2007.
“It costs a little bit more — the food, the meat, the vegetables,” he added. “Minneapolis, too, the minimum wage went up.”
Still, Wong said he leaves with no regrets.
“I feel good about it. I think it’s time to move on,” he said. “We’re ending on a good note.”
Red Dragon is the latest of several Twin Cities eateries to shutter in 2024, including the St. Paul staple Tavern on Grand. Even newer restaurants, like Kim’s from award-winning chef Ann Kim, also in Uptown, could not survive.
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