2008-01-22-MPD-Highlights

MPD HIGHLIGHTS for the week of 22- 28 January, 2008

CITYWIDE TRENDS

The MPLS total violent crime rate is 11% lower than at this time in 2007.

There have been no homicides this year to date. There were 7 homicides by this time in 2007.

The number of robberies increased by 5% this week compared to this week in 2007.

The number of aggravated assaults fell by 14% this week and by 26% in this year-to-date period.

Total property crimes are 18% lower in this week period than in 2007.

Burglaries are 36% lower in this week period than in 2007.

54 weapons have been recovered so far this year, 17 from the 3^rd Precinct and 18 from the 4^th Precinct.

Juveniles accounted for largest percentage (approximately one third) of all Part I arrests this week.

1^st PRECINCT

2^nd PRECINCT

3^rd PRECINCT

4^th PRECINCT

5^th PRECINCT

6^th St/15^th Av S: Officers responded to robbery call; woman was attacked by group described as Somali youth; 6 suspects punched, pushed victim to ground, grabbed victim’s buttocks several times; victim fought back as 1 suspect tried to take victim’s purse; officers checked the area, located group of suspects nearby, who then fled on foot when they saw the squad; lengthy foot chase ensued; 4 suspects eventually apprehended: Arrested/AGGRAVATED ROBBERY

CID investigating

17^th/Washington St NE:

Officers attempted to stop car for minor equipment violation; driver fled, officers followed vehicle; suspect crashed car, fled on foot; perimeter established, driver captured without incident; suspect transported to HCMC for ingesting sizable amount of marijuana in attempt to hide it from officers; more marijuana found in vehicle: Arrested/FLEE

/MARIJUANA in MOTOR VEHICLE

CID investigating

3100 blk E 28^th St: Officers responded to Burglary in progress at school; assisted Park Police to apprehend 3 juvenile suspects: Arrested/ BURGLARY of BUSINESS

Park Police investigating

3500 blk Morgan Av N: Victim thought he had arranged to meet woman in person via Internet chat room, drove to Mpls from Woodbury; when he arrived at residence, beaten with baseball bat by unknown man , robbed of property, forced out of house without shoes

CID investigating

32^nd/Lyndale Av S: Officers stopped car for inoperative brake light, detected strong marijuana odor on driver and in vehicle; further investigation, revealed 5-lb bag of marijuana, approx $6500 in cash, loaded semi-automatic handgun: Arrested/ NARCOTICS

CID investigating

300 blk 2^nd Av N: Victim was assaulted in parking ramp in very early morning by 4 women; cell phone taken; officers apprehended 1 suspect with victim’s property; 2 suspects tracked by investigator: 3

Arrested/ AGGRAVATED ROBBERY

CID investigating

17^th/Washington St NE:

Officers on routine patrol observed suspicious person, recognized him as Top 10 Offender in 2^nd Precinct area; officers knew suspect is wanted on felony warrant; taken into custody without incident

Arrested/WARRANT

Precinct investigating

2900 blk 30^th Av S: Victim reported being robbed at gunpoint when he tried to buy marijuana; victim later went back to dealer’s house to ask for money back; suspect refused, hit him in face with shovel, forced him out of house at gunpoint; bleeding, victim drove to grocery store parking lot, flagged down officers, led them back to house; officers found situation as described, documenting blood trail, recovered guns, shovel used in assault (broken nose): 5 Arrested/AGGRAVATED ROBBERY/ASSAULT/

CURFEW (3 juveniles)

CID investigating

3500 blk Morgan Av N:

Another victim thought he had arranged to meet woman in person via Internet chat room, drove to Mpls from Hudson, WI; when he arrived at residence threatened with baseball bat, gun by man; victim called 911, but became uncooperative (had previous prostitution/drug arrests); officers located victim’s property at residence: 2 Arrested/NARCOTICS

/THEFT

CID investigating

4600 blk Nicollet Av: Officers called to Robbery of Business; suspect (white male, 5’6”, 20-30 yrs old, wearing black baseball cap, cream colored jacket) entered fast food store, took coke from cooler, threw $2 on counter; when employee opened register; suspect drew silver handgun, demanded money; employee gave suspect all money in register which activated security camera; suspect believed to be involved in similar prior robbery

CID investigating

Investigations Units ~ Special Operations ~ Joint Task Forces ~ Support Operations

Robbery Unit

Investigating: 47 new cases routed, 12 cases assigned; 8 cases cleared by arrest; 0 cases exceptionally cleared; 1 case unfounded; 7 cases transferred to another unit

2 Arrested: AGGRAVATED ROBBERY/KIDNAPPING: 4000 blk Xerxes Av N: Update on last week’s case in which victim had arrived home, approached by 2 men, 1 with handgun, victim forced into trunk of stolen car; suspects took victim’s’ truck and stolen car with victim in trunk to Robbinsdale, where they left victim in trunk; suspects then drove to south Mpls; victim discovered by resident who heard screams; officers located victim’s truck using OnStar GPS tracking service; officers located suspect, Trevonnie Mack (10/29/88) outside 3100 blk Clinton Av inside the victim’s truck; Mack arrested after foot chase, BB gun also recovered, 2^nd suspect’s fingerprints found on victim’s vehicle, Travaris Dixon, (05/03/90), Dixon picked up by VCAT, confessed to participating in robbery/kidnapping; On 01/25/08, both suspects charged by HCAO with bail set at $250,000

Arrested: ROBBERY: Franklin/Portland Avs S: Victim walking to work robbed at gunpoint; officers located suspect who is convicted felon; BB gun recovered; victim uncooperative

2 Arrested: ROBBERY: 5600 blk Chicago Av S: Victim entering grocery store grabbed by victim, robbed of purse; suspect then ran to waiting car; witnesses noted license plate; officers located, stopped car

3 Arrested: AGGRAVATED ROBBERY/ASSAULT: 300 blk 2^nd Av N: Victim in parking ramp when assaulted, robbed by 4 women; 1 suspect detained by ramp security who had victim’s property; officers located 2 other suspects, all charged by HECO Atty

Investigating/1 Cited: LOITERING with INTENT to COMMIT PROSTITUTION: 1300 blk Linden Blvd: Columbia Heights resident drove to address in promise of meeting prostitute, encountered pre-arranged online at Craigslist.com; after giving suspect $120 while waiting for prostitute, 2 men entered room, robbed man of additional money; man soliciting sex later cited

Investigating: AGGRAVATED ROBBERY: 19^th/Pierce St NE: Juvenile victim reported adult boyfriend forced her at gunpoint to withdraw money from ATM; investigators determined accusations false

Juvenile Unit

2 Arrested: ROBBERY/CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT-MOLEST: 6^th/21^st Av S: Victim attacked, punched in head by 2 of 4 suspects

Arrested: ROBBERY: Ausburg Campus: Suspect pushed victim into snow bank, robbed victim

Arrested: ROBBERY: 32^nd/Pillsbury Av S: Victim robbed by 2 suspects at knifepoint; officer located 1 suspect in area, identified by victim

Investigating: ROBBERY: 21^st/Dupont Av N: Victim robbed by juvenile suspects who were hanging around behind fast food restaurant

Investigating: ROBBERY: 1600 blk Oak Park Av N: Victims robbed, assaulted by group of youth, possibly group that congregates around Plymouth Av N convenient store; store video reviewed

2 Arrested: ASSAULT: 3800 blk 27^th Av S: Victim driving when window shot out; officers located 2 suspects

Juvenile Criminal Apprehension Team: Checked 22 addresses; made 8 arrests, 1 for OBSTRUCTION; TRUANT: 15; CURFEW: 25; low level offenses: 13

Sex Crimes Unit

Investigating: Cold 2005 case, DNA hit on Lewis Edward Byrd, in custody in New Mexico for violent CSCR; complaint for CSCR signed

Arrested: CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT-RAPE/KIDKNAPPING: 3500 blk 3^rd Av S: Earl Ward, violent repeat offender, charged with 2 counts CSCR, 2 counts Kidnapping, Terroristic Threats

Investigating: Lowry/Emerson: 13-yr-old victim reported stranger rape, described suspect as 5’9, medium build, facial hair, 29 yrs

Investigating: 100 blk 4^th St N: Victim charged with Falsely Reporting a Crime (CSCR)

MPD/ATF Weapons Task Force

3 Arrested: 3 in-custody cases assigned; 3 arrested, charged; ATF partners adopted, charged 2007 MPD case; notorious high ranking gang member received federal prison sentence of 192 months

Motor Vehicle

Theft Program

Investigating: Bait vehicles Bait vehicles were deployed last week with activation in 4^th Precinct; videotape will be reviewed for suspect information

Forgery/Fraud

Investigating: 100 cases routed to unit; 13 cases assigned this week; 5 cases charged

Crime Lab

Field Operations processed 18 scenes; Forensic Garage processed 9 vehicles; Computer Forensics completed 4 cases; Firearms/Tool marks completed 10 cases

Support Services

Processed 747 Property Inventories; 2969 Booking Sheets processed; Transcription staff reviewed, processed 922 gun registration cards into database

Special Operations Division

SOD Patrol: Handled/initiated 235 calls; made 47 suspicious vehicle/person stops, 77 traffic stops; made 25 misdemeanor arrests, 5 felony arrests; wrote 13 Curfew citations; officers recovered .357 handgun at Dowling/Aldrich Av N during a traffic stop; officers recovered crack cocaine/ecstasy at Broadway/Girard Av N, made felony NARCOTICS arrest; powder cocaine recovered during stop at 29^th/Queen Av N, felony arrest made; made NARCOTICS arrest at Dowling/Freemont Avs N, recovered crack, ecstasy

Warrant Team: Executed 5 high risk warrants, 8 arrested, shotgun, handgun, 2 rifles secured; officers made 3 felony arrests, 16 misdemeanor arrests during directed patrol

Bomb Unit: Bomb Squad Sgt instructed 3-hour class on explosive recognition, suspicious package response, suicide bombers, vehicle-borne devices and emerging threats; unit members trained on both of our current robot systems

Traffic Unit: Traffic officers made stops 758 last week, of those stops issued 811 citations, made 61 arrests; officers also investigated 37 accidents, 5 squad accidents

K9 Unit: 2 K9 teams assisted 4^th Precinct officers on pursuit, K9 tracked, located suspect who was taken into custody; K9 assisted 4^th Precinct officers who were chasing several burglary suspects, K9 tracked, located 2suspects who were taken into custody; K9 responded to BURGLARY of BUSINESS in progress in 5^th Precinct, officer took suspect into custody after K9 located hiding place near business; K9 responded to BURGLARY of BUSINESS in 1^st Precinct, K9 officer apprehended 2 suspects without incident

CODEFOR PATTERNS & ACTIONS

1^st Precinct: An increase in the number of reported aggravated assaults and robberies (most happen just after bar close, between 2:00-3:00 am) drove up the total violent crime rate 128% over this week in 2007. The number of arrests for violent crimes rose by 1000% accordingly; 4 arrests for aggravated assault and 7 for robbery. Larceny cases (primarily thefts of items left unattended in restaurants, bars and vehicles) continue to be a cause for concern, this week they have risen by 55% and are also up in the year-to-date period by 23%. Property crimes in general increased 10% over 2007. Eight weapons were recovered this week.

2^nd Precinct: Overall violent crimes were down by half, with significant decreases in aggravated assaults and robberies. The overall property crime rate was 35% lower this week. Officers made a total of 108 arrests this week.

3^rd Precinct: Violent crime totals decreased by 8% this week compared to this week last year and maintained the downward trend, by 10%, in this year-to-date period. Half of the aggravated assaults reported this week appear to be gang related. Officers made 11 arrests this week for violent crimes; total violent crime arrests increased by 27% this year.

4^th Precinct: Total violent crime has decreased by 30% this year compared to 2007 at this time. Officers noted a pattern of robbery involving groups of juveniles, 15-17 years old, approaching victims on the street as they are waiting for a bus or getting out of their car. Property crimes are also lower in year-to-date timeframe by 28%. Officers made 261 total arrests this week.

5^th Precinct: Violent crime overall rose by 15% this week with a 15% increase in aggravated assault, driving up the year-to-date increase by 19%. Five of six reported assaults are the result of domestic disputes. The pattern of robberies involving groups driving around to find victims has not been noted in the last 10 days, in large part due to the increase in community vigilance and the increased willingness to call 911. Officers have also been working proactively and made 350 stops of suspicious vehicles. Property crimes across all categories have fallen significantly and are 29% lower for the year.

CITYWIDE TRENDS The MPLS total violent crime rate is 11% lower than at this time in 2007. There have been no homicides this year to date. There were 7 homicides by this time in 2007. The number of robberies increased by 5% this week compared to this week in 2007. The number of aggravated assaults fell by 14% this week and by 26% in this year-to-date period. Total property crimes are 18% lower in this week period than in 2007. Burglaries are 36% lower in this week period than in 2007. 54 weapons have been recovered so far this year, 17 from the 3^rd Precinct and 18 from the 4^th Precinct. Juveniles accounted for largest percentage (approximately one third) of all Part I arrests this week.	1^st PRECINCT	2^nd PRECINCT	3^rd PRECINCT	4^th PRECINCT	5^th PRECINCT
	6^th St/15^th Av S: Officers responded to robbery call; woman was attacked by group described as Somali youth; 6 suspects punched, pushed victim to ground, grabbed victim’s buttocks several times; victim fought back as 1 suspect tried to take victim’s purse; officers checked the area, located group of suspects nearby, who then fled on foot when they saw the squad; lengthy foot chase ensued; 4 suspects eventually apprehended: Arrested/AGGRAVATED ROBBERY CID investigating	17^th/Washington St NE: Officers attempted to stop car for minor equipment violation; driver fled, officers followed vehicle; suspect crashed car, fled on foot; perimeter established, driver captured without incident; suspect transported to HCMC for ingesting sizable amount of marijuana in attempt to hide it from officers; more marijuana found in vehicle: Arrested/FLEE /MARIJUANA in MOTOR VEHICLE CID investigating	3100 blk E 28^th St: Officers responded to Burglary in progress at school; assisted Park Police to apprehend 3 juvenile suspects: Arrested/ BURGLARY of BUSINESS Park Police investigating	3500 blk Morgan Av N: Victim thought he had arranged to meet woman in person via Internet chat room, drove to Mpls from Woodbury; when he arrived at residence, beaten with baseball bat by unknown man , robbed of property, forced out of house without shoes CID investigating	32^nd/Lyndale Av S: Officers stopped car for inoperative brake light, detected strong marijuana odor on driver and in vehicle; further investigation, revealed 5-lb bag of marijuana, approx $6500 in cash, loaded semi-automatic handgun: Arrested/ NARCOTICS CID investigating
	300 blk 2^nd Av N: Victim was assaulted in parking ramp in very early morning by 4 women; cell phone taken; officers apprehended 1 suspect with victim’s property; 2 suspects tracked by investigator: 3 Arrested/ AGGRAVATED ROBBERY CID investigating	17^th/Washington St NE: Officers on routine patrol observed suspicious person, recognized him as Top 10 Offender in 2^nd Precinct area; officers knew suspect is wanted on felony warrant; taken into custody without incident Arrested/WARRANT Precinct investigating	2900 blk 30^th Av S: Victim reported being robbed at gunpoint when he tried to buy marijuana; victim later went back to dealer’s house to ask for money back; suspect refused, hit him in face with shovel, forced him out of house at gunpoint; bleeding, victim drove to grocery store parking lot, flagged down officers, led them back to house; officers found situation as described, documenting blood trail, recovered guns, shovel used in assault (broken nose): 5 Arrested/AGGRAVATED ROBBERY/ASSAULT/ CURFEW (3 juveniles) CID investigating	3500 blk Morgan Av N: Another victim thought he had arranged to meet woman in person via Internet chat room, drove to Mpls from Hudson, WI; when he arrived at residence threatened with baseball bat, gun by man; victim called 911, but became uncooperative (had previous prostitution/drug arrests); officers located victim’s property at residence: 2 Arrested/NARCOTICS /THEFT CID investigating	4600 blk Nicollet Av: Officers called to Robbery of Business; suspect (white male, 5’6”, 20-30 yrs old, wearing black baseball cap, cream colored jacket) entered fast food store, took coke from cooler, threw $2 on counter; when employee opened register; suspect drew silver handgun, demanded money; employee gave suspect all money in register which activated security camera; suspect believed to be involved in similar prior robbery CID investigating
Investigations Units ~ Special Operations ~ Joint Task Forces ~ Support Operations
Robbery Unit	Investigating: 47 new cases routed, 12 cases assigned; 8 cases cleared by arrest; 0 cases exceptionally cleared; 1 case unfounded; 7 cases transferred to another unit 2 Arrested: AGGRAVATED ROBBERY/KIDNAPPING: 4000 blk Xerxes Av N: Update on last week’s case in which victim had arrived home, approached by 2 men, 1 with handgun, victim forced into trunk of stolen car; suspects took victim’s’ truck and stolen car with victim in trunk to Robbinsdale, where they left victim in trunk; suspects then drove to south Mpls; victim discovered by resident who heard screams; officers located victim’s truck using OnStar GPS tracking service; officers located suspect, Trevonnie Mack (10/29/88) outside 3100 blk Clinton Av inside the victim’s truck; Mack arrested after foot chase, BB gun also recovered, 2^nd suspect’s fingerprints found on victim’s vehicle, Travaris Dixon, (05/03/90), Dixon picked up by VCAT, confessed to participating in robbery/kidnapping; On 01/25/08, both suspects charged by HCAO with bail set at $250,000 Arrested: ROBBERY: Franklin/Portland Avs S: Victim walking to work robbed at gunpoint; officers located suspect who is convicted felon; BB gun recovered; victim uncooperative 2 Arrested: ROBBERY: 5600 blk Chicago Av S: Victim entering grocery store grabbed by victim, robbed of purse; suspect then ran to waiting car; witnesses noted license plate; officers located, stopped car 3 Arrested: AGGRAVATED ROBBERY/ASSAULT: 300 blk 2^nd Av N: Victim in parking ramp when assaulted, robbed by 4 women; 1 suspect detained by ramp security who had victim’s property; officers located 2 other suspects, all charged by HECO Atty Investigating/1 Cited: LOITERING with INTENT to COMMIT PROSTITUTION: 1300 blk Linden Blvd: Columbia Heights resident drove to address in promise of meeting prostitute, encountered pre-arranged online at Craigslist.com; after giving suspect $120 while waiting for prostitute, 2 men entered room, robbed man of additional money; man soliciting sex later cited Investigating: AGGRAVATED ROBBERY: 19^th/Pierce St NE: Juvenile victim reported adult boyfriend forced her at gunpoint to withdraw money from ATM; investigators determined accusations false
Juvenile Unit	2 Arrested: ROBBERY/CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT-MOLEST: 6^th/21^st Av S: Victim attacked, punched in head by 2 of 4 suspects Arrested: ROBBERY: Ausburg Campus: Suspect pushed victim into snow bank, robbed victim Arrested: ROBBERY: 32^nd/Pillsbury Av S: Victim robbed by 2 suspects at knifepoint; officer located 1 suspect in area, identified by victim Investigating: ROBBERY: 21^st/Dupont Av N: Victim robbed by juvenile suspects who were hanging around behind fast food restaurant Investigating: ROBBERY: 1600 blk Oak Park Av N: Victims robbed, assaulted by group of youth, possibly group that congregates around Plymouth Av N convenient store; store video reviewed 2 Arrested: ASSAULT: 3800 blk 27^th Av S: Victim driving when window shot out; officers located 2 suspects Juvenile Criminal Apprehension Team: Checked 22 addresses; made 8 arrests, 1 for OBSTRUCTION; TRUANT: 15; CURFEW: 25; low level offenses: 13
Sex Crimes Unit	Investigating: Cold 2005 case, DNA hit on Lewis Edward Byrd, in custody in New Mexico for violent CSCR; complaint for CSCR signed Arrested: CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT-RAPE/KIDKNAPPING: 3500 blk 3^rd Av S: Earl Ward, violent repeat offender, charged with 2 counts CSCR, 2 counts Kidnapping, Terroristic Threats Investigating: Lowry/Emerson: 13-yr-old victim reported stranger rape, described suspect as 5’9, medium build, facial hair, 29 yrs Investigating: 100 blk 4^th St N: Victim charged with Falsely Reporting a Crime (CSCR)
MPD/ATF Weapons Task Force	3 Arrested: 3 in-custody cases assigned; 3 arrested, charged; ATF partners adopted, charged 2007 MPD case; notorious high ranking gang member received federal prison sentence of 192 months
Motor Vehicle Theft Program	Investigating: Bait vehicles Bait vehicles were deployed last week with activation in 4^th Precinct; videotape will be reviewed for suspect information
Forgery/Fraud	Investigating: 100 cases routed to unit; 13 cases assigned this week; 5 cases charged
Crime Lab	Field Operations processed 18 scenes; Forensic Garage processed 9 vehicles; Computer Forensics completed 4 cases; Firearms/Tool marks completed 10 cases
Support Services	Processed 747 Property Inventories; 2969 Booking Sheets processed; Transcription staff reviewed, processed 922 gun registration cards into database
Special Operations Division	SOD Patrol: Handled/initiated 235 calls; made 47 suspicious vehicle/person stops, 77 traffic stops; made 25 misdemeanor arrests, 5 felony arrests; wrote 13 Curfew citations; officers recovered .357 handgun at Dowling/Aldrich Av N during a traffic stop; officers recovered crack cocaine/ecstasy at Broadway/Girard Av N, made felony NARCOTICS arrest; powder cocaine recovered during stop at 29^th/Queen Av N, felony arrest made; made NARCOTICS arrest at Dowling/Freemont Avs N, recovered crack, ecstasy Warrant Team: Executed 5 high risk warrants, 8 arrested, shotgun, handgun, 2 rifles secured; officers made 3 felony arrests, 16 misdemeanor arrests during directed patrol Bomb Unit: Bomb Squad Sgt instructed 3-hour class on explosive recognition, suspicious package response, suicide bombers, vehicle-borne devices and emerging threats; unit members trained on both of our current robot systems Traffic Unit: Traffic officers made stops 758 last week, of those stops issued 811 citations, made 61 arrests; officers also investigated 37 accidents, 5 squad accidents K9 Unit: 2 K9 teams assisted 4^th Precinct officers on pursuit, K9 tracked, located suspect who was taken into custody; K9 assisted 4^th Precinct officers who were chasing several burglary suspects, K9 tracked, located 2suspects who were taken into custody; K9 responded to BURGLARY of BUSINESS in progress in 5^th Precinct, officer took suspect into custody after K9 located hiding place near business; K9 responded to BURGLARY of BUSINESS in 1^st Precinct, K9 officer apprehended 2 suspects without incident
CODEFOR PATTERNS & ACTIONS
1^st Precinct: An increase in the number of reported aggravated assaults and robberies (most happen just after bar close, between 2:00-3:00 am) drove up the total violent crime rate 128% over this week in 2007. The number of arrests for violent crimes rose by 1000% accordingly; 4 arrests for aggravated assault and 7 for robbery. Larceny cases (primarily thefts of items left unattended in restaurants, bars and vehicles) continue to be a cause for concern, this week they have risen by 55% and are also up in the year-to-date period by 23%. Property crimes in general increased 10% over 2007. Eight weapons were recovered this week. 2^nd Precinct: Overall violent crimes were down by half, with significant decreases in aggravated assaults and robberies. The overall property crime rate was 35% lower this week. Officers made a total of 108 arrests this week. 3^rd Precinct: Violent crime totals decreased by 8% this week compared to this week last year and maintained the downward trend, by 10%, in this year-to-date period. Half of the aggravated assaults reported this week appear to be gang related. Officers made 11 arrests this week for violent crimes; total violent crime arrests increased by 27% this year. 4^th Precinct: Total violent crime has decreased by 30% this year compared to 2007 at this time. Officers noted a pattern of robbery involving groups of juveniles, 15-17 years old, approaching victims on the street as they are waiting for a bus or getting out of their car. Property crimes are also lower in year-to-date timeframe by 28%. Officers made 261 total arrests this week. 5^th Precinct: Violent crime overall rose by 15% this week with a 15% increase in aggravated assault, driving up the year-to-date increase by 19%. Five of six reported assaults are the result of domestic disputes. The pattern of robberies involving groups driving around to find victims has not been noted in the last 10 days, in large part due to the increase in community vigilance and the increased willingness to call 911. Officers have also been working proactively and made 350 stops of suspicious vehicles. Property crimes across all categories have fallen significantly and are 29% lower for the year.

City of Minneapolis