At least 33 people were arrested Wednesday night in downtown Minneapolis as a second wave of looting and rioting hit the city.
“Troopers and Minnesota DNR conservation officers arrested 33 people last night in Minneapolis while working to restore order and clear businesses of looters. Troopers arrested 28 people, the Minnesota DNR arrested five,” the Minnesota State Patrol said on Twitter.
Troopers and @mndnr conservation officers arrested 33 people last night in #Minneapolis while working to restore order and clear businesses of looters. Troopers arrested 28 people, the @mndnr arrested five. @MinneapolisPD will have overall arrest totals.
— MN State Patrol (@MnDPS_MSP) August 27, 2020
The Minneapolis Police Department hasn’t yet disclosed how many arrests it made during the unrest. According to Crime Watch Minneapolis, most of the arrests were for probable cause rioting.
Police begin using rubber bullets after looting at Saks. Our reporter was hit with one so quality is shaky at the end. pic.twitter.com/tCyLAzdjMc
— Alpha News MN (@AlphaNewsMN) August 27, 2020
A citywide curfew will go into effect Thursday night at 8 p.m. and will remain in effect through Friday morning at 6 a.m.
A city-wide curfew goes into effect tonight at 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28. pic.twitter.com/uJTW0JTRr6
— City of Minneapolis (@CityMinneapolis) August 27, 2020
WCCO reports that at least 32 businesses were damaged, looted, or burned Wednesday, including:
- Barrio, Nicollet Mall
- Brit’s Pub, Nicollet Mall
- Caribou Coffee, Nicollet Mall
- Chipotle, Nicollet Mall
- CVS, Nicollet Avenue
- Dahl Medical Supply, Nicollet Mall
- Devil’s Advocate, Nicollet Mall
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 10th Street South
- Foot Locker, 7th Street South
- Franklin-Nicollet Liquor Store, Nicollet Avenue
- Greenway Liquors, West Grant Street
- Haskell’s Wine and Spirits, 9th Street South
- Hen House, 8th Street South
- Hubert White, Nicollet Mall
- IDS Center, Nicollet Mall
- Lotus Restaurant, West Grant Street
- Lunds, 12th Street South
- The News Room, Nicollet Mall
- Nordstrom Rack, Nicollet Mall
- Rainbow Road, West Grant Street
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 2nd Avenue South
- Sak’s Off 5th, Nicollet Mall
- The Saloon, Hennepin Avenue
- Speedway, West Grant Street
- Sushi Train, Nicollet Mall
- Target, Nicollet Mall, Uptown, and Dinkytown (windows at Target HQ on Nicollet also broken)
- Union, Hennepin Avenue
- Walgreens, Nicollet Mall, and 43rd Street/Chicago Avenue
- Zelo, Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey hosted a press conference late Thursday morning to provide an update on the evolving situation.
Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order Wednesday night activating the Minnesota National Guard. Soldiers from the 257th Military Police Company are now on the ground.
Soldiers from the @MNNationalGuard 257th Military Police Company are assisting local law enforcement in protecting property and ensuring the safety of MPLS residents. We are working in coordination with the @CityMinneapolis and the @MinneapolisPD at the direction of @GovTimWalz. pic.twitter.com/0zDpylZfQS
— MN National Guard (@MNNationalGuard) August 27, 2020
The downtown area had a heavy presence of National Guard soldiers and police officers Thursday afternoon. Many of the businesses hit in last night’s riots have now been boarded up.
Heavy National Gaurd and Minneapolis Police presence still downtown this afternoon.
Most of the businesses hit in last night's rioting and looting have been boarded up. pic.twitter.com/eokzcso2Rg
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) August 27, 2020
Currently heavy National Guard & Police presence downtown Minneapolis.
Many businesses boarded up from rioting & looting that happened last night. pic.twitter.com/PMOOifQjgN
— Alpha News MN (@AlphaNewsMN) August 27, 2020
UPDATE: Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson says a total of 132 people were arrested Wednesday night by multiple agencies on various offenses that included riot, burglary, damage to property and curfew violations.
“My staff and I fully support the right to protest peacefully and assemble lawfully. Our deputies and staff will continue to do all we can to ensure demonstrators have a safe environment to voice their concerns,” Hutchinson said in a statement. “But violence and looting will simply not be tolerated. We will not sit back and let criminal activity occur without consequences. We will make lawful arrests to ensure the safety and security of our citizens and our cities.”
UPDATE: The Minnesota National Guard says it plans to activate a total of 400 soldiers by the end of the day.
Today, nearly 100 soldiers are available and supporting missions. Soldiers are assisting local law enforcement to ensure the safety of local residents and preserving property.
Another 300 soldiers from the Montevideo-based 1-151 Field Artillery-Thunder are being activated today. pic.twitter.com/b8OZ5k5Zsz
— MN National Guard (@MNNationalGuard) August 27, 2020
Gov. Walz and Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington held a press conference Thursday evening.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
