A handful of skirmishes broke out during the first weekend of the Minnesota State Fair that included a few fights and a possible stabbing, and bus service to the fair was delayed for a time due to a pro-Palestine protest that blocked Snelling Avenue outside the main gate on Saturday afternoon.
16 vehicles, including a big box truck, blocked traffic, preventing fairgoers from exiting or entering from Gate 5 at the #MNStateFair for well over an hour. The cars and trucks were flying Palestinian flags and chanting things like “Black Lives Matter.” pic.twitter.com/fLN8ffd7Bd
— Hayley Feland (@HayleyFeland) August 24, 2024
State Fair officials later confirmed to media that Gate 5 on Snelling Avenue was shut down for just under an hour during the demonstration, while fairgoers were directed to enter at other gates.
On Friday night, an assault was reported to have occurred just outside the grounds at about 8:30 p.m. In another incident just before 9:30 p.m., a group of males was reported to be causing a disturbance and stealing from vendor booths, according to police scanner audio posted on X by Crime Watch Minneapolis.
Just before 7 p.m. on Saturday, a large brawl was reported near the Butterfly House.
A few minutes later, the dispatcher aired that a person had reported that they’d been jumped by five people in the same area.
About 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, another “big fight” was reported by responders already on site near a food vendor, where parties were reported to be throwing garbage cans at each other.
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Partial video of the garbage can incident during a reported fight at #MNStateFair. pic.twitter.com/HJOQbR1xHD— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) August 26, 2024
A brief video clip obtained by Crime Watch showed a male grabbing a garbage can lid and running toward something out of frame.
About 9 p.m. Saturday, there was a report of a stabbing near the DNR building involving a 911 caller who said they were chased by about 10 people.
St. Paul #MNStateFair – Possible stabbing near the DNR building, female reportedly stabbed. 911 caller said they were chased by 10 people.
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Police confirming one is stabbed.#MNStateFair2024 pic.twitter.com/HomUcfibmb— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) August 25, 2024
Responders on site appeared to confirm a stabbing or injury, according to police scanner audio at the time. Police later told media that a person suffered a “non-critical” injury to the leg from an unknown cause.
Police told media that no arrests had been made related to the assault incident.
There were also a few reports of people jumping fences to get inside the fairgrounds, and another report of a group of juveniles who had stolen a golf cart from a vendor that was later retrieved by responders.
A pedestrian was also reported to be struck by a vehicle on Snelling Avenue at Hoyt well after the gates had closed. The party was reported at the time to be conscious and talking to responders.
St. Paul – Pedestrian struck by a vehicle.
Hoyt and Snelling Ave, near the #MNStateFair
00:50 pic.twitter.com/rKgLSVT4X0— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) August 25, 2024
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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.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
