A handful of businesses throughout the Twin Cities metro area were reportedly looted Friday night following the sentencing of former police officer Kim Potter.
Potter, a former Brooklyn Center police officer who accidentally killed Daunte Wright during an April 11 traffic stop, was sentenced to two years in prison Friday by Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu. The two-year sentence, only two-thirds of which will be spent behind bars, was a “significant downward departure” from the presumptive sentence.
Wright’s family described the sentence as a “slap on the wrist.”
A heavy security presence was seen throughout Brooklyn Center Friday night and at least one store was looted.
This ‘Icon Beauty Supply” store was partially looted within the last hour here in Brooklyn Center. Owners called for help and it is now being boarded up. #DaunteWright #Minnesota pic.twitter.com/2cyCUzl4TH
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 19, 2022
Brooklyn Center Applebee’s is not messing around. They have the most security I’ve seen outside any business tonight.
They closed early this evening due to nearby looting. pic.twitter.com/9WVRbsXcTq
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 19, 2022
According to Crime Watch Minneapolis, police responded to reports of looting at businesses on East Lake Street. In one case, police said the looters were firing rounds into the air.
Report of multiple people breaking into Burlington Coat Factory 21xx E Lake St.
Police arriving, saying a bunch of people are taking off.
22:16— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) February 19, 2022
Police say they spoke to security at a biz on E Lake Street who said looters were shooting into the air. (3rd Precinct end of Lake St.).
We also got info from security at another business on E Lake St who said they had to draw guns on a group right after the Burlington incident.— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) February 19, 2022
In St. Paul, looters smashed the windows of a tobacco store with sledgehammers.
Smashed windows at the tobacco store. pic.twitter.com/vtVoSjaVsL
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) February 19, 2022
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said during his “Live on Patrol” show that a Boost Mobile store on Rice Street in St. Paul was looted. He also noted that looters were scouting different areas for police and notifying people via livestreams of the areas with the lowest police presence.
Fletcher also said there are people out scouting area for looting, checking for police and notifying people on various live feeds that there are no cops around.
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) February 19, 2022
This type of behavior was possibly observed in Brooklyn Center where vehicles were circling a shopping mall.
All is still quiet in Brooklyn Center although traffic seems to have picked up – more vehicles, some w/ blacked out windows suspiciously encircling the shopping area.
A helicopter is now above. Several businesses like Cub Foods & CVS now have installed cameras & security. pic.twitter.com/rijwWS5wvj
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 19, 2022
