One woman has been charged and a man was taken into custody late Friday night related to an alleged attack on staff and residents of a homeless shelter in north Minneapolis last week, and more arrests could be forthcoming.
The incident reportedly unfolded over several hours on Thursday evening, Sept. 5, on the 2600 block of Russell Avenue North, when a dispute boiled over between neighborhood residents and staff and guests at St. Anne’s Place shelter, according to statements by Minneapolis police, court documents, and social media reports.
Eureka Dominique Riser (aka Willis), 33, has been charged in Hennepin County District Court with felony counts of second-degree riot and first-degree damage to property after surveillance video reportedly showed her breaking windows with a baseball bat in two glass doors at the shelter. Riser was accompanied by at least two others who initially approached the shelter about 8:20 p.m. that evening and remained on site for several minutes, causing the damage. At one point, Riser was seen coming out of the building and one of her accomplices was observed pointing what officers believed to be a gun at the building.
Following the incident and arrest of Riser on Thursday, Sept. 12, the Minneapolis Police Department released a statement announcing the arrest and described that the facility was a shelter for women and children.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara said in the statement that the investigation began immediately but that it took time to interview witnesses and track down victims and suspects.
“This incident was disturbing and involved multiple levels of potential crime which has made this ongoing investigation labor intensive,” said O’Hara. “I am confident this investigation will continue to its logical conclusion, and so, further arrests may still occur.”
People Serving People (PSP), which runs the shelter on Russell Avenue, also released a statement describing the “traumatic incident” during which they said half a dozen people from the neighborhood descended on the shelter, assaulted guests and caused property damage to the building and to a guest’s vehicle. PSP indicated that the attack was believed to have originated over a dispute about street parking.
The shelter was emptied of residents, comprising about 54 women and children, who were moved to other locations over safety concerns following the incident, according to a media report.
On Friday evening, Minneapolis police announced a second arrest of a 35-year-old man in connection to the incident, who had not yet been formally charged.
The criminal complaint against Riser states that damages sustained in the attack were estimated to total at least $10,000. However, the statement by PSP indicated that costs related to repair and security of the building as well as trauma care for guests and staff had exceeded $100,000, to date.
Riser remains in custody at Hennepin County Jail on $20,000 bail, and is scheduled to make her first court appearance on the charges on Monday.
Alpha News will continue to follow developments and further charges in the case.
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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.
