5 Arrested As Crowd Threatens, Attack Minneapolis Police Officers

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Five people were arrested early Thursday morning when Minneapolis police officers were harassed and then attacked by a large group of people as officers were attempting to section off an encampment, police said.

The five people were arrested after a group of 25-30 people began to actively challenge and push against a line of officers after three men initially began to swear at and throw snowballs at officers who were cordoning off the area around the encampment. Police have not identified those who were taken into custody.

The incident took place just before 7 a.m. as officers were assisting the Minneapolis Health Department and Community Planning and Economic Development in the area of Second Ave. and Humboldt, which a block away from the encampment, police said. The encampment site, which is near Second and Girard Avenue North, is being closed down due to contamination, fire hazards, and other health and safety risks, police said.

As police officers were setting up police tape so that equipment could be brought in to clear out the area, officers noticed that someone had pushed dumpsters into the roadway. Three men then appeared and began to taunt officers, which led other residents to come out of nearby homes, police said.

The people began to tear down the tape that had been set up and began to throw snowballs at officers as more officers arrived on scene. As squads arrived, between 25 and 30 people began to approach the cars and challenged officers. One person then physically attacked a police officer and as officers attempted to arrest the person, other people approached the officers. A woman jumped on the back of one of the officers and began to choke him, police said. As more people came and surrounded the officers, one officer was attacked from behind while another was punched in the face, police said.

Five people were arrested for their role in the incident, including those who resisted arrest. Five officers were treated for minor injuries and were cleared to return to duty. The Minneapolis Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit is reviewing the use force as is customary in use of force incidents.