Twin Cities weekend crime recap

A woman was found deceased in a Minneapolis alley early Thursday morning in a suspected hit and run. Medics and other responders were dispatched about 6:40 a.m. to an alley on the 2500 block of Emerson Avenue South for a person who was possibly deceased due to a hit and run. Dispatch audio at the time graphically described severe head trauma to the victim. Minneapolis police later issued a statement saying the adult female who was found deceased at the scene had injuries that may have been caused by a vehicle. The statement also said the woman was “known to sleep in the alley.” MPD had not issued any updates related to the incident as of Monday. However, a source familiar with the investigation confirmed to Crime Watch Minneapolis over the weekend that a commercial truck is suspected to be involved in the incident.

The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday unanimously approved the appointment of Brian O’Hara to the position of chief of police for the Minneapolis Police Department. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey subsequently held a press conference to announce the appointment.

O’Hara will be one of five public safety related department heads that report directly to the city’s new Community Safety Commissioner Cedric Alexander.

O’Hara formerly held the position of deputy mayor in the city of Newark, New Jersey. O’Hara was officially sworn in on Monday morning.

Bloomington police reported that SWAT activity took place Thursday night on the 10300 block of Devonshire Road, which is just west of 35W. Police said the activity was part of a search warrant being executed at an apartment unit related to an arrest earlier in the day on Thursday during which two 15-year-old juveniles were arrested for possession of a stolen auto and possession of a handgun.

BPD said that at approximately 2:30 p.m., officers were investigating a stolen vehicle located in the area of 101st and Colfax Avenue South. Two juvenile males fled from the area on foot, and officers were able to locate and arrest the males. A loaded, stolen handgun was located on one of the males. A second loaded handgun, believed to have been ditched by the other male, was later located in a nearby trash receptacle. The second male also had an active Ramsey County warrant for possession of a weapon on school property. Both juvenile males were transported to Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center. No additional arrests were made at the scene of the search warrant and BPD said the investigation is active and ongoing.

St. Paul Central High School authorities reportedly sent a notice to parents about a lockdown that took place at the school on Thursday following an incident that involved parents “not following [their] code of conduct.” Details on what transpired were not immediately available, but the notice indicated it was the second day in a row that a similar lockdown had taken place. In the prior day’s event, a notice was sent out that a student was reported to have a knife. Ultimately, no weapon was found and there were no reported injuries, and they said no one was in danger.

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This was a notice reportedly sent to St. Paul Central HS families on Nov. 3 about a lockdown that resulted from "parents coming to the school and not following [their] code of conduct."

We're working to find out exactly what happened. If you have info, please DM.
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— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) November 4, 2022

 

Jack Douglas Heinrich, 33, was charged Friday in Hennepin County Court with three felonies related to a fire at a Brooklyn Park Salvation Army location last week.

Brooklyn Park police reported that they were dispatched on Thursday about 10:48 p.m. to a burglary alarm at the Salvation Army Worship Center, 10011 Noble Parkway North. Responding officers found smoke coming from the church and indication that a fire was burning inside. Brooklyn Park Fire responded and quickly extinguished the fire.

Officers began investigating and, while searching the immediate area, located and detained a suspicious male, later identified as Heinrich. Officers reviewed surveillance footage from the church which showed the suspect forcibly entering the church and lighting a fire in the sanctuary. The fire was lit with combustible material on top of a pew. After watching the surveillance footage, officers determined that the male who was detained was wearing the same clothing as the suspect. Probable cause was established, the suspect was placed under arrest, and transported to the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center.

BPPD said damage to the Salvation Army Worship Center was contained to the sanctuary, which included damage to furniture by fire, smoke and water. Brooklyn Park Police detectives are working in cooperation with the Brooklyn Park fire marshal to investigate the details of this incident. They said a motive for the suspect’s behavior has not yet been established.

At the time of his arrest, Heinrich had active warrants in at least two Hennepin County cases on charges of fourth-degree assault on police, obstructing the legal process, fleeing police, intentional flag mutilation, and fourth- and fifth-degree controlled substance. Court records show that Heinrich has a history of mental illness and has been civilly committed at least twice.

Heinrich, who did not have an address listed on court or jail records, has been charged with second-degree arson, second-degree burglary of a religious building, and first-degree damage to property. Charges say numerous windows at the church were broken and the chapel sustained significant damage from smoke and fire, estimated at over $100,000 according to a report by CCX Media.

Heinrich was scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday afternoon with an initial bail amount set at $80,000.

A shooting victim showed up at HCMC Friday just after 9 p.m. following a report of shots fired in Minneapolis in the area of East 19th Street and 1st Avenue S., according to dispatch audio. Two to three vehicles were later found to also have bullet damage in the area of the incident. Information about the victim’s injuries was not immediately available, and no public statement was issued by police on the shooting. Just before 11 p.m. Friday, police aired that they were in a foot pursuit of the possible shooting suspect in the same area where the incident occurred. The suspect was reportedly taken into custody, but details on the arrested party were not immediately available. No public statement was issued by police about the shooting.

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Sounds like this shooting vicitm is related to this shots fired.https://t.co/yqrC1QLqs8

— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) November 5, 2022

St. Paul police on Friday identified a man killed earlier in the week in a shooting homicide as Deandre Lamarr Buckner, 28, of St. Paul, Minn. The incident occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 1 about 10 p.m. on the 600 block of Preble Street and marked the city’s 32nd homicide for the year. SPPD reported that Soungharom Remy Sok, 20, of St. Paul had been arrested following the killing.

A woman was carjacked on the southern edge of downtown Minneapolis late Friday afternoon, and video of the brazen daylight incident was later posted online.

Police were dispatched about 4:45 p.m. to the 1600 block of Elliot Avenue for a woman who was strong-armed in a robbery for her vehicle keys by two male suspects, and her 2017 Toyota Camry was taken.

The surveillance video shows the two suspects approach the woman as she retrieves something from the backseat of her silver Toyota Camry. The victim attempts to walk away, but one of the suspects snatches the keys from her hand while the other restrains her. One of the suspects then enters the vehicle and begins to drive away as the victim holds onto the door handle. No public statement was released by police about the incident.

There have been 467 carjackings so far this year in Minneapolis, down slightly from the 478 reported at the same time last year.

A gunshot victim showed up at North Memorial hospital about 3 a.m. Saturday and told police they were shot near 40th and Penn or Queen Avenue North in Minneapolis, according to dispatch audio. No further details were made available about the victim’s injuries. No public statement was issued by police about the shooting.

Minneapolis police responded to another shooting Saturday afternoon about 1 p.m. on the 5700 block of Sander Drive, according to dispatch audio. Details were not immediately available about the victim’s injuries, and no public statement was issued by police about the shooting.

Bloomington police on Saturday requested the public’s help in identifying suspects in a motorcycle theft that occurred on Nov. 2 about 3:30 p.m. from an underground parking garage at 1003 East 80th Street.

Taken was a 1993 Harley Davidson with raised handlebars. The suspects gained entry into the garage, driving a 2007-2013 Chevrolet Silverado extended cab, short box, towing a utility trailer. The suspects then loaded the motorcycle onto the trailer. The pickup appears to be painted matte black or dark gray with aftermarket or painted gold wheels and a vinyl tonneau cover. The license plate that was displayed was stolen from a car dealership.

Police are looking for help in identifying the pictured suspects, the vehicle owner and locating the stolen motorcycle. Should you have any information, please call 952-563-8839.

Chaska police reported that they pulled over a Tesla driver for speeding on Sunday, and he subsequently provided a preliminary breath sample of .194 BAC. Information on the arrested party was not immediately available.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported that they pulled over a driver early Sunday morning on Hwy. 36 and found that the cab of the vehicle was full of empty beer cans. The driver refused to comply with a standard field sobriety test but gave a preliminary breath sample of .213 BAC and was arrested. Information on the arrested party was not immediately available.

Two people were shot in Minneapolis on Sunday evening, according to dispatch audio. The first occurred just after 8 p.m. near East Franklin Avenue and Chicago Avenue. The victim was reported at the time to be self-transporting to the hospital. Police did not find a victim at the scene, but a shooting victim was dropped off at the hospital about 20 minutes later. Information about the extent of the victim’s injuries was not immediately available.

Just after 11 p.m., Minneapolis police were dispatched to 30th and Aldrich Avenue North on a report of a shooting. The victim told police the shooting occurred near Star Foods at Lowry and Bryant Avenue North. Police said the bullet did not penetrate the victim’s skin, so they were not transported to the hospital.

Around Minnesota

The Big Lake Police Department reported on Thursday that a traffic stop for an equipment violation the day prior led to the discovery of a substantial amount of drugs as well as weapons.

BLPD said that during the officer’s roadside investigation, suspected narcotic paraphernalia was observed. A search of the occupant and the vehicle revealed a substantial amount of illegal narcotics and weapons. One occupant of the vehicle was subsequently arrested and booked into Sherburne County Jail. BLPD said the methamphetamine recovered roughly weighed in at 128.6 grams.

Noah Napolean McDougall, 43, of Robbinsdale was charged with first-degree possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Court records show McDougall was granted a public defender at his initial court appearance on Thursday. Jail records show McDougall was released from custody on his own recognizance following his court appearance with no bail required. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 18, 2023.

Timothy Daniel Loftus, 41, of Rochester, Minn., was charged Thursday in Olmsted County Court with felony counts of third-degree murder and interference with a dead body connected to the death of Tia M. Arleth whose severely decomposed body was found on June 17 by a person mowing grass on his property in Haverhill Twp., Minn.

Arleth’s body was wrapped in a blue tarp and was secured with a rope, a tie-down strap, and duct tape. A hypodermic needle was located on the body, as well as a small plastic bag containing a pill. Authorities also found a green, two-wheeled dolly in the area of the body that witnesses later identified as belonging to Loftus.

Charges say Loftus hid Arleth’s body after he told a witness she died after ingesting heroin and fentanyl he provided to her. Arleth’s body was in such an advanced stage of decomposition that a medical examiner could not make a final determination on the cause of death. The postmortem toxicology tests were positive for the presence of fentanyl in Arleth’s system, and the autopsy revealed no apparent fractures or bullet holes, the charging document said.

Arleth’s mother told authorities that she had dropped her daughter off at Loftus’ residence on May 29. Arleth’s phone was later tracked by authorities to that location as arriving that evening. The phone did not leave the residence and had not been used to communicate with anyone after that, and it appeared to lose power two days later. Arleth’s phone has not been found.

Loftus made a first court appearance on the murder charge on Friday and bail was set at $500,000. Loftus is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Nov. 17. Loftus is also facing several felony charges in other cases involving drugs and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Willmar police said two people were shot Saturday night, and two male suspects were taken into custody, including a juvenile.

Police said one of the victims was treated at an area hospital and the other refused treatment for their minor injuries, according to a report by the West Central Tribune.

Police responded to the shooting just after 11 p.m. Saturday on the 700 block of 3rd Street Southeast. Few details were given as to the motive of the shooting, but Detective Sgt. Chad Nelson said in a news release that the parties were known to each other, and the incident involved a confrontation over a recent dispute.

Jaedon Craig Stewart Marshall, 21, and a 15-year-old, both from St. Cloud, were arrested. Marshall is being held on probable cause charges of second-degree assault and attempted murder. Police said the juvenile could face the same charges.

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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.