MN News

PROTESTER-ASSAULT ACQUITTAL        Minn. protester acquitted of assault at law firm        (Information in the following story is from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, http://www.twincities.com)        ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A jury has acquitted an anti-foreclosure Occupy Homes MN protester of assault at a St. Paul law firm.        The Ramsey County jury Monday convicted 38-year-old Anthony Newby, of Minneapolis, of trespassing.        Newby was sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to stay away from the law firm’s offices and a paralegal who was injured in a protest at the firm last March. He also was fined $200.        Newby told the judge he looks forward to the day executives “who crashed our financial system” get the same amount of scrutiny he did.        Prosecutors said Newby grabbed the paralegal during the protest and pushed her. He testified he initiated no contact with her.        The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports about three dozen supporters sat in the courtroom during closing arguments.

ST PAUL POLICE-MUSLIM GARB        St. Paul police: Photo shows cop in Muslim garb        (Information in the following story is from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, http://www.twincities.com)        ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – St. Paul police confirm an online photograph shows one of its policemen dressed as a Muslim woman.        Police spokesman Howie Padilla says the officer is still assigned to the K-9 unit.        The officer’s name was not released Monday.  Padilla says the matter is still under investigation.        St. Paul Police Chief Tom Smith released a statement saying his department has worked hard to establish “a strong and respectful relationship with our Muslim communities,” and he will not allow these types of images “to erode that relationship.”        The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says the officer should undergo diversity training.        The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Mukhtar Ibrahim, a journalist in Washington, D.C., had directed a Tweet at the St. Paul Police Twitter account, asking about the photo.

FATAL FIRE CHARGES        Minn. apartment resident charged in fatal fire        (Information in the following story is from: KLGR-AM, http://www.myklgr.com)        REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. (AP) – A Redwood Falls man is charged with murder and arson after a fire last month killed a 72-year-old man living in his apartment building.        Forty-eight-year-old Peter William Warren appeared in court Monday on charges of second- and third-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and 10 counts of first-degree arson.

KLGR-AM reports Redwood Falls police and fire departments were called to a fire at the Lakeside Manor Apartment building on Jan. 24. Crews found Gene Gilland unresponsive in his apartment. He was taken to a hospital but died from fire-related causes.        Redwood County Attorney Steven Collins says authorities believe Warren started the fire in a closet in the building’s dining room.  The motive is unclear.        The fire displaced all 52 residents of the building.        Unconditional bail is set at $1.5 million.

OBAMA        Obama pitches gun proposals in Minneapolis        MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – President Barack Obama has come to Minneapolis to press for a ban on military-style firearms and for universal background checks for gun buyers. He’s taking his case directly to the public amid divisions over the proposals in Congress.        Obama says the measures to limit access to some weapons or to require a check of criminal histories during weapons purchases are common sense measures that have support of the public.        But he says: “We don’t have to agree on everything to agree it’s time to do something.”        Before his remarks Monday, Obama held a roundtable discussion at the Minneapolis Police Department Special Operations Center, speaking with law enforcement and community leaders.

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR-EMMER        Effort afoot for repeat Minn. gov run by Emmer        ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Some Republicans are pining for a repeat campaign for Minnesota governor by former state Rep. Tom Emmer.        A new draft effort surfaced last week to get the GOP’s 2010 nominee to seek a 2014 rematch with Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton. Emmer lost a narrow election to Dayton two years ago.        The draft campaign was registered with campaign regulators. It is led by a former House colleague, Doug Wardlow of Eagan. In an email, Emmer says he has no current plans to run for anything next year. He says he is enjoying his job hosting a radio show.        Several Republicans are sizing up a bid for governor, but they haven’t taken any formal steps. There is also a draft campaign urging on Senate Minority Leader David Hann.

SHOOTING CHASE        Man shot by officers leads brief chase        (Information in the following story is from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com)        HINCKLEY, Minn. (AP) – Authorities say a man wanted on a felony warrant was shot and wounded by officers in Pine County before leading deputies on a brief chase.        Pine County sheriff’s officials say a deputy and State Patrol trooper arrived at the man’s home near Hinckley Sunday evening to arrest him for violating terms of his probation. Authorities say 29-year-old Louis Workman got in his vehicle and sped toward officers, who were on foot. The two officers fired several shots. One struck Workman in the hand.        He fled from the scene and was arrested about a mile away when he was forced into a ditch. Workman was taken to Essentia Hospital in Sandstone. The Star Tribune says the officers were not injured.        Workman was accused of violating his probation from a previous fleeing conviction.

 

Admin Log In