'Our Hands Are Tied' by 'Politicians,' Says Cop Not Doing 'His Job'
If it seems like the Minneapolis police aren’t doing a lot of policing these days… well, let’s let the cops tell it themselves. “Our hands are tied,” an officer informed Mike Forcia, an American Indian activist, when asked why no one was investigating a suspected drug dealer. Who tied them? “The politicians.” Ah, I see. So the cops are just not doing anything about crime? “We’re very hands off.” But wait, but this flyer I got in the mail told me that the problem is that the police are dangerously understaffed. Forcia captured the chat on video, and the issue is discussed more fully over at Minnesota Reformer.
Noor Re-Sentenced, Likely Free in 2022
Mohammed Noor, the former Minneapolis police officer who killed 911 caller Justine Ruszczyk Damond in 2017, was sentenced to five years in prison for second-degree manslaughter (the maximum sentence) by a Hennepin County judge this morning. The Minnesota Supreme Court had overturned Noor’s murder conviction, for which he had been sentenced to 12½ years. With time served, Noor may be out of prison next June.
Minnesotans Can Take More Tests
Free rapid COVID tests for all! Gov. Tim Walz announced yesterday that the Minnesota National Guard has been activated to set up nine more rapid antigen testing sites, meaning you can check your status quickly without shelling out $50-$150 to a private company. Three locations are already up and running in Stillwater, Crookston, and Hutchinson; tomorrow sites will open up in Brooklyn Park and Duluth; and next week Inver Grove Heights, Wadena, Hibbing, and Albert Lea will have new testing options. You can also score free rapid tests at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul and in Moorhead. Find the complete list of sites here.
Merwin Liquors Needs Help Moving
Bring your pickup truck if you can, as Merwin’s is looking to get out of its current spot on 700 W. Broadway Ave. in Minneapolis. The North Side liquor store has seen numerous shootings and crime near its location over the last couple of years; this past June a woman died and a man was left in serious condition after a shootout. Merwin is asking the city for help, and Minneapolis licensing staff are looking at potential sites for the store. Meanwhile, other businesses have shown interest in purchasing the space, including development organization Love Minneapolis, LLC.
