>>City of Willmar, Officer Sued by Willmar Man Claiming Wrongful 2022 Arrest
(Willmar, MN) — The City of Willmar and a police officer are being sued by a man who claims he was wrongly arrested and harassed two years ago. Derrick Gilbert of Willmar is seeking $50,000 in damages, claiming he was arrested for “walking while Black” on June 22nd, 2022, by Officer Christopher Flatten. Gilbert says Flatten was reportedly looking for a suspect to arrest on a warrant, whom they suspected he was. Gilbert says he was questioned, and after showing his I.D. and not fitting the physical description of the suspect, he was arrested on a charge of obstructing the legal process, which was dropped six months later. The lawsuit was filed on June 22nd, 2024. Willmar and Flatten now have nine days to respond. Willmar Police Chief Jim Felt says the city does not comment on pending litigation.
>>1 Dead, 3 Injured in 2-Vehicle Fargo Crash
(Fargo, ND) — One person is dead, three others injured, in a two-vehicle crash in Fargo Thursday night. Around 10:30 p.m., an eastbound motorcycle entered an intersection on a red light when it crashed into a southbound car on a green light. The motorcycle driver, a 47-year-old man, died at the scene. His 19-year-old female passenger was brought to Sanford Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Neither was wearing a helmet. The vehicle driver and passenger were brought to Essentia Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
>>Iowa Woman Facing 2nd-Degree Murder, Interference with a Dead Body Charges to Appear in Court
(Rochester, MN) — The Iowa woman facing second-degree murder charges in the death of 35-year-old Minneapolis DJ and music producer Liara Tsai was served a bench warrant in court this morning. 32-year-old Margot Lewis appeared in Olmsted County court via Zoom on a felony charge of interference with a dead body. The judge made it clear that the murder charges are taking priority over any other charges. Tsai’s body was found in the back seat of Lewis’s car in an accident along I-90 near Eyota nearly two weeks ago.
>>Three People Arrested in Connection with Meeker County Stabbing
(Meeker County, MN) — Three people have been arrested in connection with a stabbing in Meeker County last month. The Sheriff’s Office reports a 20-year-old was arrested at a Willmar hotel Tuesday, a 48-year-old was arrested outside a Granite Falls hotel Wednesday, and a 26-year-old was arrested during a traffic stop in Willmar Wednesday. Officials say the three suspects brought the victim, 50-year-old Galen Serbus of Olivia, to a remote location to rob him. They intentionally hit the victim with their vehicle, after which he was stabbed and left on the road.
>>MN BCA Investigates Officer Use of Force Incident in Bloomington
(Bloomington, MN) — The Minnesota BCA is investigating an officer who used force this morning after a crisis call evolved into gunfire. According to a Bloomington Police post on X, Richfield officers responded to a suicide threat after midnight. On arrival, officers and the 36-year-old man at the Bloomington residence exchanged gunfire. After negotiation, the man exited the house and was arrested around 4 a.m. More details have yet to be released.
>>MN BCA Searches for Missing Moorhead Teen
(Moorhead, MN) — The Minnesota BCA has issued a statewide missing person alert for a 19-year-old man. Arthur Wiebe was last seen walking away from his family’s shop in Moorhead on Monday. Officials say he does not have a cell phone, access to a vehicle, or credit or debit cards. Wiebe is described as white, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 140 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with black near the shoulder, grey pants, and darker-colored shoes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Red River Regional Dispatch Center at 701-451-7660.
>>Cat Thrown Off 12-Story Minneapolis Building Recovering at WI Animal Sanctuary
(Star Prairie, WI) – Rue, a one-year-old tabby recently thrown off a 12-story balcony in Minneapolis, is recovering from a broken leg, foot, and jaw at Star Prairie, Wisconsin’s Home For Life. Animal Care Specialist Heidi Pulaski explains that animal care and control agencies partner with multiple sanctuaries. She says an email went out but “no one else had accepted, so we took her in, pretty much at the last minute, she had a couple of hours to live.” As of now, Minneapolis Animal Care and Control is not pursuing criminal charges due to a lack of evidence, despite multiple witnesses reported on the scene and animal cruelty being a felony in Minnesota.
>>MPRB Union Employees Officially on Strike
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board union employees officially went on strike Thursday after rejecting the board’s final offer earlier this week, demanding competitive wages, more safety tools, and healthcare. According to the union’s study, the current top pay for parkkeepers is $30.99, compared to the suburban average of $38.02 for similar positions. The MPRB stood by its final offer, which included a 10.25% wage increase over three years for multiple positions.
>>MN Lynx Forward Collier Suffers Foot Injury Against Suns
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier suffered a foot injury against the Connecticut Suns at Target Center on Thursday. Collier appeared to be limping late in the third quarter and was out for the remainder of the game come fourth. It’s unknown what her exact injury is or if she will be out of any upcoming games. Collier scored nine points and six rebounds in 25 minutes before leaving the game.
>>1st Mosquitoes to Test Positive for West Nile Virus Found by MMCD
(Undated) – The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District has found its first mosquitoes to test positive for the West Nile virus. Spokesman Alex Carlson reassures, “There have not been any human cases of West Nile, but we have collected mosquito samples that tested positive; those were collected in Anoka County.” Most people infected with the West Nile virus experience no symptoms. Those who develop symptoms commonly report fever, headache, body/joint aches, or rash.