We have very low attendance tonight because EQ sent the wrong link to attenders. All I can do is apologize.
The meeting opened at 6:44 PM 7 attenders. We followed up on our December discussion of the several crimes that occurred in Dinkytown and elsewhere in SE Minneapolis.* (asterisks refer you to newspaper story links on part 2 of this report)
Two people were killed and a third person wounded in Royal Cigar, a tobacco shop, at 14th and 4th Street SE at 2 AM. The first story in the Star Tribune indicated that the shop had a 11PM close mandated by its licensing. It was later discovered the shop IS licensed to remain open until 2 AM; a correction appeared in the S’Trib.
Two weeks later, 3 underaged women were given drinks by others [not staff] at Blarney’s. The drinks had been adulterated. The chemicals used to adulterate the drinks do not cause people to stagger or slur their speech, so Blarney’s staff didn’t have any alert signs. [See Inspector Torborg’s comment below.] The women left with the “others” When the women appeared at a hospital emergency room later that night, only one of them was able to communicate with officers.
EQ contacted the Manager of Mpls. Licenses and Consumer Services, Amy Lingo, hoping she’d have time to join us with an outline of her office’s response to these events, since both shops are licensed by the city.
She offered to speak at a future meeting, AND she sent me the following statement for tonight’s meeting, “Business Licensing , the 2nd Police Precinct, and Police Licensing are working together and with the establishments, both in advance and as issues arise. Measures such as formal security reviews and alcohol service compliance checks are in process. Complaints that do not fall under immediate emergency (which should utilize 911) are best sent via 311. This allows us to track and trace the issues.
“As far as licensing impact, . . . We are following our protocol and procedures for such enforcement actions. We use a progressive enforcement plan as well as a communication plan. When we find rules that are being ignored, we reeducate and work to regain alignment and proper business behavior.”
What Ms. Lingo stated reinforces the statements Inspector Torborg and CPS Ali made in December. Since they are on the front lines of this business, I’m asking if they have any updates?
Inspector Torborg: I’m in contact with the departments in Licensing, but can’t make any comments that might jeopardize the case. Checks are in progress and I haven’t heard any updates on the [health] of the girls. Lab work is in process and adulteration cases are tricky. This is a rare case because the victims actually made it to the hospital while they still had drugs in their systems. Most often victims don’t realize what has happened until the drugs have been metabolized, which leaves nothing for the lab to find.
Torborg added that bystanders [including bartenders trained to watch for people for “issues”] are not likely to realize the victims have been drugged. They don’t act that way. Instead the drugs are more of a memory blocker. The Inspector recalled from his work with Sex Crimes investigations, that people would protest they were familiar with the effects of alcohol on their systems. This was different. “I lost time” is what he heard.
The next incident: Shots fired at an occupied house on 15th Ave. SE in SE Como. A day later, the owner spotted officers searching the alley and talking to neighbors. Apparently several shells were recovered. No further info available.
Mr Santana’s Deli on University Ave SE also had a shooting during this 28 day period.
Inspector Torborg: The shooter is claiming self-defense. She did flee the scene that night but then turned herself in. It will be up to the County Attorney to decide what charges to apply.
Mr Santana’s has a conditional permit from many years ago that allows them to be open 24 hours a day. The Police would rather see everything close up at 1 AM which makes patrol work easier to do well.
Inspector Torborg: We’ve had 14 shootings in the 2nd Precinct this year [i.e.2023], 6 of them were homicides. That is astronomically high compared with the rest of the city. The 4th Precinct [his previous assignment] has a shooting almost every day, but relatively few of them are homicides.
Quast: UMPD coverage of the 2nd Precinct traditionally changed over the years. How do UMPD and MPD handle coverage today?
Inspector Torborg: Right now UMPD Squads back up MPD Squads on Priority 1 Calls. Their cameras also help. The day after the shooting at Royal Cigar, the UMPD camera trailer was right in front of the shop. The trailer cameras are monitored back at the UMPD station.
2nd Precinct Advisory Council 