Southwest Detroit’s tropical cocktail spot appears to be saying it’s last call, and hopefully, someone continues to carry the torch for the Mutiny Tiki Bar.

Owners of the bar said in a social media post on Monday that the Polynesian-inspired party at the tiki-themed watering hole was ending. The bar is located at 4654 Vernor Highway near Clark Avenue.

“Friends, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Mutiny Tiki Bar,” the post said. “For nine incredible years, you’ve filled our space with laughter, music, celebration, and community. We are endlessly grateful for every visit, every toast, and every memory made under our roof.”

The post said the last day of service will be March 1. The owners said it’s no longer possible for the bar to continue operating under its current business levels.

• Several top Milwaukee-area high school boys basketball teams are competing for conference titles and top seeds.
• Brookfield East is named team of the week after two key conference wins put it in contention for the Greater Metro Conference title.
• West Allis Central dropped in the rankings after its star player, Yusef Gray Jr., was reported to be out for the season.
• Wisconsin Lutheran remains undefeated and holds the top spot in the area rankings.

It is a big week for several top high school boys hoops teams in the Milwaukee area, as programs make their final cases for top seeds and clinch conference titles.

Slinger and Whitefish Bay, locked in a dead heat for the North Shore title, are ranked just as close in our area rankings this week. Brookfield East earns our team of the week nod after a sweep of conference opponents gave it the inside track for a Greater Metro Conference title. West Allis Central kept winning last week, but the news that Iowa State commit and 6-foot-5 senior guard Yusef Gray Jr. is reportedly out for the season dropped the Bulldogs another couple spots.

Wauwatosa West dropping a barn-burner to Brookfield East drops it out of the top 10 this week, while Milwaukee Audubon Tech (13-7) has lost three straight games to drop out of others considered.

Here are our full area rankings, team of the week and games to watch in the week ahead.

AREA RANKINGS

Team (W-L), last week

1. Wisconsin Lutheran (21-0), 1
2. Port Washington (20-1), 2
3. Milwaukee Juneau (19-1), 5
4. New Berlin West (19-2), 3
5. Brookfield East (17-4), 9
6. Slinger (17-4), 4
7. Whitefish Bay (16-5), –
8. West Allis Central (19-2), 6
9. Golda Meir (16-2), 8
10. Howard Fuller Collegiate (18-2), 10

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – The Minnesota BCA has announced the FBI has officially informed the agency it will not allow the state access to evidence in the shooting of Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis last month.

FBI denies access to Pretti evidence

What we know:

In a statement on Monday, the BCA said the notification about the denial came on Feb. 13 as the agency reiterated requests for information on the shootings of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Julio Sosa-Celis.

The state had argued in court for the preservation of evidence in the Pretti shooting and was initially granted a restraining order which was later lifted as the Department of Justice opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting. Federal officials have said the shooting is being reviewed jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and FBI.

What’s next:

The BCA says it will continue to investigate the shootings despite the lack of cooperation from the federal government.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has said she expects to have enough evidence to make a charging decision in Pretti’s shooting along with the Good and Sosa-Celis shootings. However, there are questions about whether a state case against a federal officer would survive the courts due to the Supremacy clause in the constitution.

The backstory:

Alex Pretti was shot and killed on Saturday, Jan. 24 after a confrontation outside of Glam Doll Donuts along Nicollet Avenue.

ProPublica has identified the federal officers involved in the shooting as Border Patrol Agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection Officer Raymundo Gutierrez.

Witness video appears to show agents disarming Pretti before gunfire erupted. According to the New York Post, the Department of Homeland Security was investigating whether an agent misfired Pretti’s weapon after seizing it, leading other officers to mistake the accidental shot for an attack.

Full statement from the Minnesota BCA

What they’re saying:

The FBI formally notified the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) on Feb. 13 that it will not provide the BCA with access to any information or evidence that it has collected in the Jan. 24 shooting death of Alex Pretti. The BCA reiterated the request to receive information, access to evidence, and cooperation in the Jan. 7 shooting death of Renee Good and the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis. It remains unclear if there will be any cooperation or sharing of information related to those two shootings.

While this lack of cooperation is concerning and unprecedented, the BCA is committed to thorough, independent and transparent investigations of these incidents, even if hampered by a lack of access to key information and evidence. Our agency has committed to the FBI and Department of Justice that should its stance change we remain willing to share information that we have obtained with that agency and would welcome a joint investigation. We will continue to pursue all legal avenues to gain access to relevant information and evidence.

BCA investigations of these incidents continue. The BCA will present its findings without recommendation to the appropriate prosecutorial authorities for review. 

Anyone with information about the shooting of Alex Pretti, Renee Good or Julio Sosa-Celis is urged to contact the BCA at 651-793-7000 or by email at bca.tips@state.mn.us.