Minneapolis, MN
Group says Minneapolis could sweep two other large encampments
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – An “autonomous” group that touts itself as defenders of homeless encampments in Minneapolis says the town has posted clearing notices for 2 different tent encampments.
In a press release issued on Friday, following a clearing on the encampment off Bloomington Avenue at East twenty eighth Road, the group says trespassing notices have been issued at encampments off Girard Avenue North in Close to North and on the Quarry encampment.
In a separate statement, a consumer who goes by Reed Eliot posted on Twitter, on behalf of one other “nameless” group serving to encampment residents, trespassing notices have been issued earlier within the week for the Bloomington encampment earlier than Friday’s early morning sweep.
Minneapolis clears homeless encampment by the Greenway, sparking complaints
“Dozens of encampment residents have been pressured to search out some other place to stay, many for the second or third time in a number of months; the town didn’t a lot as present meals or water for these residents,” the assertion reads. “They misplaced survival gear, treatment, identification paperwork, and irreplaceable private gadgets on this inhumane eviction.”
Copies of the trespassing notices posted on-line do nonetheless level residents in direction of metropolis shelter sources. In a press release, the town additionally mentioned it had despatched its Homeless Response Crew out to the encampment 27 occasions earlier than the clearing.
Each activist statements criticized aggressive police presence on the clearings. On the similar time, posts on the Twin Cities Encampment Responders web page warn of retaliation if the town have been to take motion in opposition to the Quarry or Close to North encampments.
“If the town of MPLS sweeps Close to North or Quarry – two out-of-the-way camps the place individuals with no different possibility discover refuge – forward of coming freezing temps, then Public Works, Reg Providers, CPED, Frey and the lot of them ought to completely have hell to pay,” the tweet reads. “Prepare.”
The variety of individuals dwelling in encampments has grown for the reason that 2008 housing disaster and worsened throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporters of the clearing say the encampments can grow to be hotspots for crime and drug use.
Encampments have popped up throughout the Twin Cities in recent times, resulting in common standoffs between metropolis officers attempting to filter the encampments and advocates for the homeless.
In a press release to FOX 9, Minneapolis officers mentioned clearing the encampments isn’t the primary plan of action, however “encampment closure will happen when circumstances grow to be harmful or encampment residents refuse to interact within the companies that may change their circumstances.”
Minneapolis, MN
Court filings from Minneapolis man accused of shooting neighbor show pattern of harassment
MINNEAPOLIS — Newly uncovered court documents accuse John Sawchak of a long history of violence.
The documents accuse Sawchak of striking a neighbor with a wooden stick, slashing the tires of a police car and threatening to kill other neighbors.
Last week, Davis Moturi said he was doing yard work outside his south Minneapolis home when Sawchak shot him.
Sawchak is charged with attempted murder for the shooting Moturi. His bail is set at $1 million.
Court documents show Sawchak’s issues with neighbors spans nearly a decade.
A request for a restraining order in 2015 is from a mother of three, who lived in the same home where Moturi lives now.
According to one of the documents, the mother wrote “Kids are afraid of sleeping in their rooms or using the restroom by themselves” and “I’m really afraid that something terrible might happen before something is done.”
In the same restraining order, she said, “police told us to keep calling” but “whenever they do come, John is already in his house and they can’t get him.”
In 2016, Carole Megarry filed for a restraining order after she said Sawchak would yell at her and record her.
The now-77-year-old writing at the time, “she was thinking [of] leaving the neighborhood and moving someplace where I do not have to worry about this man.”
“It was definitely intimidating, certainly state of vigilance always looking and listening,” Megarry said.
Instead of leaving, she adapted.
In 2022, things took a violent turn when she let her dog out.
“He came after me with a piece of lumbar about 4 inches long. He was yelling at me and chasing,” Megarry recalled. “I was afraid I could have been killed.”
Since that time, Megarry said she’s avoided Sawchak, going as far as not even walking in the alley of her home.
Neighbors said they are upset with how police handled the situation and how they let this situation with Sawchak go unnoticed.
Megarry said many neighbors knew not to engage with him and just ignore him.
While Sawchak’s home remains boarded up, neighbors like Megarry say they feel safer knowing he’s in custody, but at the same time, uneasy.
On Friday, the Minneapolis NAACP said dereliction of duty led to the shooting and wants a sincere apology from Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey. Minneapolis public information officers say O’Hara already did that during a press conference this week.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis bridge getting $34 million in federal funding for improvements, repairs
MINNEAPOLIS — A project to improve the Nicollet Avenue Bridge is getting $34.2 million in federal funding.
The funding is part of a $635 million grant for 22 small and medium-sized bridge projects around the U.S., according to the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.
The bridge, which stands over Minnehaha Creek in Minneapolis’ Tangletown neighborhood, was built in 1923 and underwent repairs in 1973, according to the city.
Federal officials say over 10,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day.
The city is planning to replace the bridge’s sidewalks, drainage and lighting systems and create protected bike lanes.
The money for the grant is part of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, which was signed into law in 2021.
During construction, the bridge will be closed to all cars, bikes and pedestrians. Timing on construction is undecided, according to the city.
Minneapolis, MN
3 people shot in Dinkytown early Friday morning
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Authorities are investigating a Dinkytown shooting that left three people injured early Friday morning.
What we know
A SAFE-U Emergency Alert states that three people were shot at the intersection of 4th Street Southeast and 13th Avenue Southeast around 2:15 a.m.
This area is in the heart of Dinkytown, just over half a mile west of Mariucci Arena and Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
The shooting happened off of the University of Minnesota campus.
What we don’t know
Police have not released information on whether any U of M students were involved.
No suspect information is currently available.
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