Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Andy Skoogman, 612-919-5918
Targets Joint Carjacking and Robbery Detail Results in Nearly 50 Arrests in Minneapolis
February 2, 2021 (Minneapolis) - Deputies from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Violent Offender Task Force and officers with the Minneapolis Police Department teamed up recently with air support from the Minnesota State Patrol to target groups of individuals responsible for the ongoing number of violent robberies and carjackings in parts of South Minneapolis.
The three-day joint operation took place Jan 26th - 28th and resulted in 46 arrests, including 69 felony-level charges. Law enforcement recovered 15 firearms and 12 stolen vehicles. Six of the vehicles were occupied at the time officers and deputies seized the vehicles.
The felony-level arrests included probable cause charges of carjacking, drugs and weapons violations, auto theft, and fleeing police.
“Our objective is simple: to protect innocent people from becoming victims of extremely violent crime,” said Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson. “This joint operation, like the one before it, was targeted and laser-focused at getting the most serious criminals off our streets.”
As an example, while serving a search warrant at a home in Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Police Gun Unit recovered seven weapons and booked two men on outstanding felony firearms and narcotics warrants.
“A few months ago, we ran a similar detail. We saw a reduction in these types of crimes. We promised our residents at that time that if necessary, we would run this public safety detail again. We continued to watch the data and listened to our residents. As you can see from these numbers, the need was there. The Minneapolis Police Department, and our law enforcement partners, continue to be committed to addressing violent crime that has impacted parts of this City,” Chief Arradondo said.
Last year, there were 405 car jackings in the city of Minneapolis, a 301% increase over 2019.
There are ways drivers can decrease the likelihood they'll be a victim of carjacking, such as:
- Park in well-lit areas
- Always be hyper-aware of your surroundings
- Equip your car with an anti-theft device
- Lock your doors while driving
- Don’t stop for apparently stranded strangers along the road. Note their location and pull over in a safe place once you’ve passed to call for help.
– HCSO–
Look for more news on
the Hennepin County Sheriff's website at http://www.hennepinsheriff.org.
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