Two people have been charged in separate assault incidents against Minneapolis police officers that occurred over the weekend.
Police say the incidents both occurred early Sunday morning, May 16, in downtown Minneapolis at 5th Street North and Hennepin Avenue at bar close just after 2 a.m.
Robert Earl Ford, 21, of Minneapolis, was charged May 17 with second- and fourth-degree assault for hitting a police officer with a stick.
Christopher Smith, 39, no known address, was charged May 18 with fourth-degree assault for spraying multiple police officers with mace.
Online reports and police dispatch audio at the time indicated that police were in the midst of a chaotic scene at bar close where there had been a report of a stabbing. Two people were eventually found with head wounds requiring EMS.
Report of stabbing, 509 Hennepin Ave, outside the Pour House. One reportedly stabbed in the neck. 02:13
–Police not finding the victim.
–Also report of another assault at this location.
–Sounds of a melee in the background.#DTMpls— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) May 16, 2021
The criminal complaint against Ford states that an officer attempted to make way for the ambulance to leave the area by asking people to move. After Ford refused to move, the officer escorted him away from the ambulance.
Ford, who was holding a stick when the officer moved him away from the ambulance, took a full swing and hit the officer over the head. The complaint states that the officer was seen having difficulty standing after he was struck and went to the hospital for evaluation.
At the same location, the criminal complaint against Smith states that police were attempting to take a man into custody when Smith sprayed mace on the faces of four officers resulting in some experiencing coughing and impaired vision.
Several officers were maced during this melee by a person with a "party can" of pepper spray.
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) May 16, 2021
Smith fled the scene after spraying the mace, and was later apprehended by police. Smith admitted to macing police officers, stating that he would do so again in the future, the complaint says.
In another incident about an hour earlier, police reportedly had rocks thrown at them while responding to a report of hotrodders in the Uptown area near Hennepin Avenue South and Lagoon Avenue. EMS was requested to that scene for an officer who reportedly sustained an eye injury.
They're throwing rocks at squads.
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) May 16, 2021
One person was reportedly detained in the incident, but information was not immediately available on whether the person was arrested or charged.
Ford and Smith remain in custody on bail amounts of $50,000 and $20,000, respectively. Ford made his initial court appearance on Monday, and Smith is scheduled to make his first appearance on Wednesday.
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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.
