Minneapolis, MN
Victim family speaks out after Minneapolis cell phone theft ring busted
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (FOX 9) – One metro space household is talking out, sharing their story of how thieves stole their cellular phone and the way shortly they tried to empty their on-line monetary apps, in hopes of serving to others.
A sweeping investigation involving state and native regulation enforcement in Minneapolis just lately led to racketeering prices in opposition to a dozen suspects in a complicated cellphone theft ring.
Authorities report there have been at the very least 40 victims stretching again greater than a yr although the quantity is predicted to be a lot, a lot greater. Based on courtroom filings, the crew acquired away with tens of hundreds of {dollars} in fraudulent monetary transfers.
“After which I noticed a Venmo transaction, money app transaction. It was quick. They acquired $5,000 out actually shortly,” one lady advised FOX 9’s Paul Blume. She mentioned she was shocked on the velocity of the thieves.
“And growth, they disappeared. He mentioned they have been gone in seconds. There was a gaggle of them.”
The girl has a college-aged son within the Minneapolis-St. Paul space. FOX 9 is defending their identities.
Based on their account, the younger man was out consuming with friends at Blarney Pub and Grill close to the College of Minnesota in January when he thought he was assembly a brand new buddy on the bar.
The girl mentioned, “The man was very pleasant to him, and so they have been simply chatting.“
However afterward, outdoors on the block, the man requested for her son’s iPhone to change Snapchat data. As quickly as he handed over the machine, his new acquaintance and several other others, in what gave the impression to be a coordinated group, took off.
After her son notified her quickly after, she logged into his on-line checking account and the thieves have been already draining the funds he was utilizing to assist pay for school.
At this level, it isn’t clear if the just lately damaged up cellular phone theft ring is answerable for what occurred to the younger man.
Along with the timing and placement, courtroom filings point out the dozen suspects would typically deploy a friendlier method like this one to steal a telephone. Different instances, they’re accused of utilizing sheer pressure, violence or intimidation.
The person authorities recognized because the conspiracy’s ring chief, Zhongshuang or“Brandon” Su, aka the iPhone Man, was arrested this week. A sizzling pot restaurant he apparently co-owns is only a block away from Blarney, the place the lady’s son had his machine stolen.
“It is simply good to see that some individuals are going to get justice, and hopefully fewer individuals are going to be victimized,” she mentioned throughout an interview at her house.
On Friday, Su posted $150,000 money bail to get out of jail.
It would not seem the opposite 11 suspects, charged by warrant, have been arrested but.
Authorities have mentioned they need to hear from potential victims of this alleged conspiracy that was energetic in well-liked Minneapolis bar districts, as extra prices are attainable. Given the racketeering allegations, some defendants could also be taking a look at as much as 20 years in jail if convicted.
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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