Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis police audit: Officers feared entering shooter’s home after Moturi attack
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis city audit is raising new questions about how police responded when Davis Moturi was shot in the neck by his neighbor in 2024.
Audit findings raise concerns about police response
What we know:
The audit found Minneapolis police officers appeared to misunderstand whether they could legally enter the home of Moturi’s neighbor, John Sawchak, after the shooting. Some officers argued “the risk to officer safety was too great” to justify going inside for what they believed was a misdemeanor offense.
It took police five days to arrest Sawchak, who was later deemed mentally ill in court. The audit also noted that many of its recommendations are already being addressed by the department, and it specifically recognized the police for their situational awareness, empathy and professionalism with victims.
Moturi, who was shot in the neck, told FOX 9, “If they’re too scared to do anything, how does how do they think I feel? How do they think I’m supposed to exist? Or what about the rest of the community, if they can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. That’s why we hired you to risk your life, to go in and put yourself in front of the citizens. What happened to serve and protect?”
The audit also pointed out that Police Chief Brian O’Hara initially appeared to blame Moturi in part for the shooting, using language the auditor described as harmful.
Moturi said, “I’m glad they highlighted the chief victim-blaming, and I know he claimed he received the wrong information. That begs the question, OK, well, where’s the information coming from?”
Chief O’Hara’s response and department changes
What they’re saying:
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara addressed the audit’s findings, saying, “Escalating neighbor disputes can leave people feeling trapped in their own homes, living with ongoing fear and uncertainty. No matter the circumstance, those who reach out for help deserve the very best from the City of Minneapolis and our police department.”
O’Hara later said in October 2024 that police failed Moturi and has since apologized publicly.
However, Moturi told FOX 9 he has not received a direct apology from the chief.
The audit has led to ongoing changes within the Minneapolis Police Department, with leadership expressing support for its recommendations and after-action review.
The audit’s findings have sparked a broader conversation about police protocols and how officers respond to dangerous situations in the community.
Minneapolis, MN
Robbinsdale police chase ends with driver arrested after hitting fence in Minneapolis
Authorities say a pursuit that started in Robbinsdale early Sunday morning ended with the driver being arrested after crashing into a fence in Minneapolis.
ROBBINSDALE, Minn. (FOX 9) – Authorities say a pursuit that started in Robbinsdale early Sunday morning ended with the driver being arrested after crashing into a fence in Minneapolis.
Police chase ends in crash
What we know:
Robbinsdale police spokesperson John Elder said the incident started at around 1:40 a.m. Sunday. Officers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. During the stop, the driver had been suspected of drinking alcohol.
Police say the driver fled officers, and a pursuit was initiated. It went into Minneapolis, where the driver crashed into a fence near the 1200 block of West River Parkway.
Driver arrested
According to Hennepin County Jail records, a 50-year-old Montrose man was booked into the Hennepin County Jail at about 3:15 a.m. Sunday. He was arrested by Robbinsdale police on probable cause fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
What we don’t know:
The alleged drunk driver has not yet been charged. The incident remains under investigation.
Minneapolis, MN
Air quality alert issued for western, southern Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A weekend air quality alert has been issued for much of Minnesota, with health officials warning that ozone pollution could pose risks for residents.
Air quality alert covers majority of MN
What we know:
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an alert for western and southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, Brainerd, Alexandria, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Rochester, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Winona, Ortonville, Mankato, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, and the Tribal Nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, and White Earth.
The alert runs from noon Saturday, June 6, through 11 p.m. Sunday, June 7. Ozone levels are expected to reach the orange AQI category, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
High ozone levels are expected during Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with conditions improving after sunset and again Sunday morning before rising in the afternoon.
Health officials recommend moving outdoor activities outside the afternoon hours to reduce exposure.
Why you should care:
Unhealthy ozone levels can aggravate lung diseases like asthma, emphysema, and COPD. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, throat soreness, wheezing, coughing, or unusual fatigue.
People at higher risk include those with asthma or other breathing conditions, children, teenagers, people doing heavy outdoor activity, and some healthy individuals who are more sensitive to ozone.
Precautions and pollution reduction tips
What you can do:
Everyone should take precautions when air quality is unhealthy. Limit or postpone physical activity, avoid busy roads and wood fires, and keep relief inhalers handy if you have breathing conditions.
To help reduce ozone pollution, officials suggest reducing vehicle trips, filling up gas tanks at dawn or dusk, using public transportation or carpooling, postponing use of gas-powered lawn equipment, and avoiding backyard fires.
Ozone is produced on hot, sunny days when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides react with sunlight. The current weather forecast of mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity is creating ideal conditions for higher ozone levels across the region.
The Source: Information from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Minneapolis, MN
Prince event signals Minneapolis’ first step to economic recovery
As an estimated 10,000+ Prince fans make a trip to downtown to honor his life, legacy, and music, Minneapolis city leaders are hopeful it can also serve as the first step to the city’s economic recovery.
Six months after the beginning of Operation Metro Surge, Meet Minneapolis estimates the eight-week-long federal immigration effort disrupted more than 70 million in wages in the hospitality industry – impacting the more than 4,600 people employed at hotels, restaurants, shops and more.
“Today is about turning the page,” said Melvin Tennant, CEO and President of Meet Minneapolis. “(It’s about) letting people know firsthand with their own eyes that things are really wonderful in downtown Minneapolis.”
Tennant says the hurt of Metro Surge came as Minneapolis had just begun to rebound from COVID-19. Hotel occupancy in 2024-2026 had just crossed 55% citywide.
This summer marks the return of many large scale events, including the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship, Special Olympics USA Games, WWE SummerSlam, and multiple outdoor World Cup related events.
“It’s absolutely vital for us to recover,” Tennant said.
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