Thursday July 26, 2018
Minneapolis City Attorney Susan Segal says there is insufficient evidence to charge anyone in connection with a bogus 911 call that led to four Somali-American teens being detained by Park Police at gunpoint.
MINNEAPOLIS - Saying there is insufficient evidence, the Minneapolis
City Attorney's Office says no charges will be filed in connection with a
bogus 911 call from Minnehaha Park that led to four Somali-American
teens being detained by police.
Minneapolis Park Police were
dispatched to the park around 7:30 p.m. July 10 after a 911 caller
reported a group of young people armed with knives in an altercation,
one of them perhaps with a gun. An onlooker recorded with her cell phone
as officers detained the youth, for a time appearing to hold a gun in
the direction of the teens. The young men were handcuffed and forced to
sit on the ground.
Investigators later discovered the 911 call was not legitimate, but
in the weeks since the incident have been unable to determine who was
behind it.
"We reviewed this case and declined to issue charges at this time
because, among other potential deficiencies, there was insufficient
evidence to confirm the identity of the person who placed the 911 call,"
explained Minneapolis City Attorney Susan Segal. "For a criminal case,
prosecutors must have proof beyond a reasonable doubt as to all elements
of the criminal charge."
The actions of the two Park Police officers ignited anger in the
Somali community and for some across greater Minneapolis. Parks
Commissioner Mary Merill says the board launched two separate
investigations into the incident, one examining the actions of the two
park police officers who detained the teens and another into the
validity of the call. Following the decision not to file charges in
connection with the bogus call the city
released a transcript of the call dispatchers received that night.
Merrill
says results of the independent investigation into the conduct of the
officers will be available within the week, and potential corrective
actions will be considered if Park Board policies were violated or laws
were broken.
"Minneapolis parks are for all people, especially
our children. Park commissioners, recreation staff and park police have
worked to provide safe, welcoming experiences for youth for more than a
century," Merrill said in a prepared statement. "We do not condone
violence in the parks. What happened July 10 at Minnehaha Park does not
reflect our organization’s mission and our obligation to serving youth
and families. We know we have a lot of work to do if we want to rebuild
trust, and we are committed to doing so."