Today We Only Stand At The Front Door Of The Future--More Images And Video Of The Hawthorne Eco-Village Groundbreaking...

Above, former Hawthorne Neighborhood Board Chair Peter Teachout talks about facing down crime in the Eco-Village.

Photo By Megan Goodmundson

A group photo of individuals who were very involved in the Eco-Village effort, including residents and public officials.

The green door pictured in the photo has a bit of a story behind it...



Originally, one city official had an idea to obtain a salvaged door at a local used building components business, but Hawthorne Housing Director Jeff Skrenes thought it would be more frugal and environmentalist to obtain a used door without cost which, really, wasn't good for anything but a prop, anyway. He got such a door from the "Hawthorne Princess," an incredible bargain of a house owned by Realtor Connie Nompelis, currently on vacation in swampy, oh-so-uncomfortable Honduras.

I might add there are PLENTY of such bargain houses in this rapidly-revitalizing model of a neighborhood.



After the symbolic groundbreaking--shoveling a path in the snow to the door--it was Council Member Diane Hofstede who personally laid out the welcome mat.




Meeting at Farview Park after the ground-breaking, where it was much warmer, 4th Precinct Commander Mike Martin talked about the incredible turnaround in the Eco-Village. According to Martin, members of gang units don't like to pull duty in this area, because it is TOO BORING. According to Martin, a lot of things went right to create the quick and startling 18-month success in the Eco-Village. He said even the bad guys did what they should have done: they packed and left.

Personally, I have to wonder if there weren't some private heart-to-heart talks with the bad guys, with stuff said like, "You DO NOT burn the truck of the neighborhood chair ON MY WATCH, (expletive)."

Whatever it was we collectively did, it worked, and hopefully we can figure out that magic formula and replicate it all over North Minneapolis and beyond.



Council Member Diane Hofstede gives credit to residents who were involved in the long, difficult struggle to turn the neighborhood around. Diane is always a classy dresser, but today she looked especially sharp.

I couldn't help but notice a minor factual error, made with the best of intentions: Diane mentioned my car "getting burned." Actually, it was Peter Teachout's truck that burned. As for me, I've had a total of ten tires slashed, one vehicle window busted, and one incident of my vehicle being stolen. (That theft also included a busted window) But my vehicle has never been torched. I would never bother to mention this except that I don't want to get credit in public for enduring something that did not, in fact, actually happen.

Due to how closely Jeff Skrenes, Peter Teachout and myself worked to turn the Eco-Village around, sometimes our different sets of facts would get mixed up in the minds of various pepole. For example, today I was asked how "all my kids" were doing. I only have one child, my son Alex, but Peter has FOUR children.



Community Development and Economic Planning (CPED) Housing Director Tom Streitz delivers remarks. One can't help but be reminded of that old saying, "Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan." Today, we didn't really need to worry about that saying.



Today, Eco-Village resident Pam Patrek--whose home might be described as a peaceful island surrounded by vacant lots--gave identical gift baskets to Jeff Skrenes and myself which included (naturally) some homemade Polish sausage.



Jeff Skrenes took some of his sausage and cut it up to share at the gathering. At Jeff's prompting, I told the story of how this sausage sustained us in our long, gritty efforts to turn around the Eco-Village, often eaten in celebration when yet another decrepit property would get demolished. The sausage itself might very well be the key to the "magic formula" which produced such overwhelming success in such a historically short period of time.

Eat, eat! we told those gathered. Eat the magic sausage. It's great cold!

Here, I'll show you--!




Jill Keiner--who is Hawthorne's point of contact with the City of Minneapolis--talks to Steve Brandt of the Star Tribune about the turnaround happening in North Minneapolis. I heard the name "T.J. Waconia" come up.

Photo By State Rep Linda Higgins

Me posing with Tom Streitz, who is a faithful reader of this blog. Thanks, Tom.

Today was a great day. However, the Eco-Village is not just an end in itself, but intended as a model and a seed which will kick start deeper and broader neighborhood revitalization.

Today we only stand at the front door of the future.

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JNS BLOG VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Frozen Groundbreaking At The Hawthorne Eco-Village, BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

This afternoon, dignitaries and ordinary residents of the Hawthorne Neighborhood assisted with the groundbreaking in the Hawthorne Eco-Village, an area of four blocks which used to be one of the roughest spots in North Minneapolis. Since the ground was frozen and beneath several layers of snow, the "groundbreaking" was accomplished by erecting a symbolic green door and shoveling a path in the snow.

After the groundbreaking and the mercifully brief speeches at 400 31st Ave. N., everybody went to Farview Park where there were more speeches--longer, because we were now in a warm building. One consistent theme of the speeches: the Eco-Village area turned around from being a hellhole of crime and decrepit buildings to being a peaceful, virtually crime-free, rapidly revitalizing area IN A MERE 18 MONTHS.

Mike Christensen of CPED called this "the quickest turnaround of a neighborhood in Minneapolis history" and said the residents who stayed to fight for the Eco-Village (including Peter Teachout, former chair of Hawthorne) were "the most gutsy group of people I ever met."

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End Game In The "True JACC" Court Battle?

Stock photo, John Hoff, infamous January 14, 2009 JACC meeting

Since the beginning of the controversy in the Jordan Neighborhood over which group is the "true" leadership of the Jordan Area Community Council, (JACC) this blog has been the leading source of information on the battle between the "New Majority" and "Old Majority" factions. For many months, this controversy has been in court as the ousted "Old Majority" faction (led by Ben Myers and figurehead E.B. Brown) have tried to claim leadership of JACC and defeat the "New Majority" faction (led by Kip Browne and Ann McCandles)

(However, since there has been yet another JACC election in the meantime, we now have what might be called the "New New Majority," which is led by Vladamir Monroe, Chair, and Kip Browne, Vice Chair)

Now, it appears the never-ending "Old Majority" battle may, in fact, be coming to a close...

A source in the Jordan Neighborhood forwarded some documents--which are public documents, anyway, but how CONVENIENT to receive them by email!--which show what may be the final moves in this climactic battle as the issue of "summary judgment" is debated in briefs filed by plaintiff and defendant. Click here for the Johnny Northside PDF support site to view the documents, complete and unedited, unfiltered.

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Do Not Adjust Your Screen--These Photos Taken In "Dollhouse Crazy-O-Vision"

Photo By John Hoff

This blog recently reported the details of the Mayor's and City Council's swearing-in, click here, including the very odd detail of Mr. Tore Simonsen, and his obsessed fixation with the television series "Dollhouse." (Click here for Simonson's blog)

Simonsen was passing out these handwritten "calling cards" at the inauguration.

One guest at the inauguration said Simsonsen gave her "the heebee jeebees."

To which I say: trust your instincts, girl.

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EcoVillage at the Hawthorne Huddle

Guest post by the Hawthorne Hawkman. Photos by Dyna Sluyter.

Today's the big day for the EcoVillage groundbreaking, and neither snow nor rain, nor heat nor gloom of night stays this neighborhood from the swift completion of its appointed development projects. Although some heat would be nice. Pictured above are the panelists from this morning's Hawthorne Huddle. Inspector Mike Martin is first, and he made the EcoVillage intensely personal for him and the officers of the 4th precinct. Below that, from left to right we have...

Jill Kiener of the Northside Home Fund, myself (Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Housing Director for any new readers), Steve Cramer of Project for Pride in Living, and a representative from EJAM (Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota).

EJAM has not partnered much with the EcoVillage just yet, but this group, with an office at the Urban League on Penn and Plymouth, is doing excellent work and we expect to join in our efforts very soon.

One theme that was brought up repeatedly was that the EcoVillage was from the very beginning a grassroots effort instead of a top-down imposition on our neighborhood. Also, Mike Martin and Mike Christenson of CPED and I talked to each other about how at the end of 2009 and early in 2010 the Strib and many media outlets are analyzing the drop in crime. And when conventional wisdom regarding economic indicators can't seem to explain why crime is down in an economic downturn, then it gets attributed to the mystical creature called "national trends."

Well this isn't some kind of "criminology butterfly effect." I've yet to be convinced that the drop in violent crimes in Hawthorne and throughout NoMi has any significant ties to less homicides in Los Angeles or fewer assaults in Boston. The results we've seen in the EcoVillage and surrounding areas are instead the fruits of labor that came from the community standing its ground and the police department and city government delivering on their promises to do so in solidarity with us. If anyone still wonders why violent crime is down, this is exhibit A.

Come join Hawthorne residents and partners at 2:30 today for a groundbreaking at 400 31st Ave N, with a reception to follow at Farview Park!

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William Earl Champion Arrested, Charged With Domestic Violence...

Stock photo by Hillside Chronicles

This information has been circulating by text among North Minneapolis movers and shakers, and I want to make sure this blog gets the story out first. William Earl Champion, born February 13, 1962, is in the custody of Hennepin County. This fact has been confirmed by examining the on-line sheriff's roster, click here for a link.

Champion is charged with "Assault/Domestic," and held pending $75,000 bail. He is also charged with "Burglary 1st Degree Assault in person in build/on property" and "domestic assault by strangulation." He was arrested on January 2, 2010.

It is not confirmed whether William Earl Champion is the relative of any prominent state politician with the same surname.

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Local D'Lish In North Loop--Fighting The Good Food Fight!

Photo By John Hoff

A couple days ago, I went by Local D'Lish to buy some organic dishwashing liquid and some locally-raised eggs. Store owner Ann Yin always has some interesting information to share about the local and organic foods movement.

For example, Ann Yin collects egg cartons from customers to give to local farmers who sell their products at farmers markets. Of course, all the eggs sold in Ann's store use new cartons--the state requires that of stores--but Ann can still help out local farmers by collecting used egg cartons. Lately, though, the State of Minnesota has been...

Trying to get farmers at farmers markets to use NEW cartons. Which, really, I think is just SILLY and a WASTE OF THE EARTH'S RESOURCES and you should WRITE YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR. In the meantime, though, Ann is still able to take donations of gently-used egg cartons. She told me, however, that...

...people should buy their eggs from local farmers, not buy their eggs at a big chain store and then "donate their egg cartons to feel good." Ouch!

Ann provides space in her store for a book donation project which helps folks at assisted living facilities. The program is run by a woman named Robin White. Above, Robin's husband arrives to pick up donated books. 

Ann poses with a Christmas card she received from the Minneapolis Bike Cops For Kids, who have their own blog, click here. 

Farm eggs come in different hues, including rare blue-green and olive hues in addition to the more common brown and white. I'd heard of these other egg hues--even saw a picture in a book called Keeping Chickens by Jeremy Hobson and Celia Lewis--but I'd never seen a green egg before. (Well, except in the book Green Eggs and Ham!)



Ooooh, organic laundry soap! It's $16 a jug, but I am SO BUYING THIS STUFF after my washing machine gets hooked up, which won't be long now. (Did I mention I love my house in NoMi?)


Even in the worst part of Minnesota winter, Ann's store is like a little farmers market. Some other products I saw but didn't photograph include goat milk yogurt drink and bison snack sticks. (In fact, as I've mentioned before, Local D'Lish has the most extensive selection of bison meat products in the Twin Cities)

I find it impossible to walk into Ann's store without buying SOMETHING, and I am renowned for my ability to refrain from buying things. My son Alex--a notoriously picky eater--discovered he likes smoked salmon after having a little sample of the stuff at Ann's store, quite a culinary milestone, actually. (Since Alex has a father who eats (for example) bugs, I figure the universe just balances itself out with my son's picky eating habits)

In any case...

Support the local foods movement by supporting Local D'Lish.

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Two Days Needed to Remove Basement Bedrooms at 2230 6th St N

Guest post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman

Hawthorne's "pink house," a once-notorious den of iniquity, has been demolished! The demolition of the structure itself went fairly quickly once the property was cleared of asbestos. However, the house once condemned against itself stood (sort of) for an extra day thanks to...

rebar throughout the basement. Apparently the basement was made deeper and reinforced. The end result of that particular rehab was to (wait for it) ADD MORE BEDROOMS, YAY!!!

The egress window yet to be removed above bears out that theory, as well as a conversation with the demo crew who concurred that's what it looked like to them too. So not only did we allow for more bedrooms to be crammed into a building that ultimately became a haven of crime, but it took more time and dollars to demolish and remove the structure. Area residents claimed that dishes in their cabinets were rattling as the demo crew took apart the basement.

Here's hoping we've learned our lessons and won't repeat the same housing mistakes of the past here in NoMi.

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Blog Upgraded, Thanks For The PayPal Donation!

Stock Photo By John Hoff

So, this morning, I was trying to upload a photo of Local D'Lish store owner Ann Yinn posing with some used egg cartons--which she collects for local farmers markets--and the technical guts of my blog screamed something I'd never heard before. I WAS OUT OF PHOTO STORAGE SPACE.

Yes, this blog puts out so much image content that we've surpassed the "free space limits" of Blogspot! As you may have noticed...

I believe EVERY POST MUST HAVE A PICTURE, even if it's just a stock photo. Furthermore, this blog goes to tremendous lengths to get photographs, whether that means crawling across the surface of a not-quite-frozen lake, or purchasing cheap "gangster cams" to replace yet another low-cost, broken camera--or borrowing the cameras of friends like Megan Goodmundson, Jeff Skrenes (the Hawthorne Hawkman) or Connie Nompelis. (No-bell-iss, it's Greek)

Also, many readers have contributed photos, too many to list. Thank you, JNS blog readers. 

In any case, for a relatively low sum of money, I managed to purchase 20 gigabytes of data space for photos. (To give you some idea of how much that is, apparently this blog was already using 1 "gig" when we ran out of space this morning)

Thankfully, this blog recently received a $25 donation through PayPal, which I want to gratefully acknowledge.

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Violent, Bizarre Incident Completely Dominates This Week's Fourth Precinct Highlights...

Photo By John Hoff

Last night, it seemed like every cop in North Minneapolis was suddenly rushing to 29th Ave. N. and Knox Ave. N., and I just happened to be in the area with a camera. From the scene, I sent updates to Twitter, but it was hard to figure out what was happening except the police were searching for somebody with a dog and one individual was sighted being taken into custody, see photo above.

Today, the Fourth Precinct Highlights went out on various email listservs, and somehow this one incident managed to...

...get mentioned in the highlights over and over.

Here are excerpts...the story comes together in bits and pieces, but one thing is pretty clear: MPD did a great job on a bitterly cold night, getting these thugs and their firearms off the street.

Monday 01-04-10
19:04 hrs

10-003200

Squads were attempting to stop a vehicle wanted in a robbery; but, it wouldn't stop. Pursuit entailed when suspects bailed and were running. Officers and K9 took custody of AP1/Zarzar, Mitchell BM 22 yrs., and AP2/Migmen, Abel BM 22 yrs. carrying a .357 cal 6-shot revolver w/3.75 BBL at this address. Female resident has seen them before in African community and maybe they visited her cousin when she was at work. The gun was hidden in her house.

(Related cases: 10-003127 and 10-003211)

PURSUIT

10-003200 Related: 10-003127, 10-003211 1906-1911 hrs ”5 minutes

Length of Pursuit: Started: 21/Fremont Ave N, Ended: 2926 Knox Ave N (2-3 miles)

Reason: Squad 959 noticed MN SMS 282 at 21/Fremont Ave N. This vehicle was used in a Kidnapping/AGG Robbery of Person at Gunpoint in North Minneapolis earlier in the evening. Squads attempted to stop the vehicle using their emergency equipment at Golden Valley RD/Morgan. Suspects failed to stop and pursuit was aired. Speeds were 20-30 mph. Streets were very icy and slippery.

In front of 29xx Knox Ave N, driver bailed and ran into. Suspects taken into custody/booked HCJ. Suspects involved in two Kidnap/Robberies, one of which, they kidnapped a victim from Anoka and dropped him off in N. Minneapolis. (10-003211).
Resources: K-9

10-003127

Robbery of Person/Kidnapping

Male victim called to say that he was kidnapped at gunpoint in Anoka. V1 states he was driven around Anoka and later into North Minneapolis. V1 states 2 black males made him strip. When he was eventually let out of veh, he was given his clothing back except his shoes. V1 went door-to-door trying to get help in area of Broadway/Aldrich. V1 was robbed of wallet, cell phone w/gun to his head. When officers attempt to make contact with V1 for Show Up, officers are unable to locate V1 as employees of Hotel believe he left for dinner. V1's phone was taken so officers unable to call for Show Up.

10-003200 Flee of Robbery vehicle from 10-003,127

Officer was driving in the area of North Minneapolis when he spots the Suspect Robbery vehicle from 003,127. After waiting for other squads to get into position to assist with stop, suspect takes off and flees from officers. Suspect eventually bails in front of 29xx Knox Av. N.

Driver/Suspect was taken into custody by K9. Passenger/Suspect run into rear of 29xx Knox with Officers in Hot Pursuit. Officers stand by in house for K9 to come inside and locate Passenger/Suspect in upstairs bedroom.

Owner of the house who was outside when suspects bail from car, give verbal and written consent to search her home. The gun is located in a closet and Passenger/Suspects jacket was also located in the room which he was hiding. Both are positively ID'd by victim from 10-003211.

10-003211 AOA

While still on scene at 29xx Knox Av. N., officers notice another Robbery of Person in calls pending. Upon looking at remarks, it states that V1 was kidnapped in Anoka, robbed at gunpoint and transported into No. Minneapolis. Squad gets info from another victim who states that while in Anoka, he is approached by 2 BMs driving a red Ford Contour (Same as original robbery) and Kidnapped at gunpoint. Victim states he is driven around Anoka, Coon Rapids and later into No. Mpls. to Broadway and Lyndale. He is eventually let out by suspects after they rob him of his wallet and cell. V1 transported to scene for a Show Up and ID'd both suspects/gun used in Robbery.

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Don Samuels Looks Forward To Continued Progress In NoMi...

Following his swearing-in yesterday, Council Member Don Samuels made some videotaped remarks, vowing to continue the progress North Minneapolis has been making in the last few years, with a focus on the well-being of children in terms of their education and safety.

Inside his small office--very plain except for the display of numerous action figures which Don either designed or accumulated during his time as a toy designer-- Samuels displayed some souvenirs of his last time in office, including bullets which came from...

...a single shooting incident, displayed in a glass right next to a brick from the demolition of the notorious Big Stop store. Somewhere in the office there is also a brick from the former Uncle Bill's store, a.ka. Uncle Lennie's. 



Fortunately, shootings and crime-ridden "inconvenience stores" are becoming increasingly rare in North Minneapolis as revitalization rolls inexorably forward.



Above, State Representative Bobby Jo Champion congratulates Samuels.



A framed Star Tribune article on the wall harkens back to the time when Don Samuels went on a fast to draw attention to the crime problem in North Minneapolis, and the need for public officials to do something. The fast was sparked by an incident in which a toddler was shot and injured. Ironically, the 19-month-old girl who was the catalyst for Don to go on this fast is actually the niece of Kenya McKnight, who ran against Samuels in the last election...producing an abysmal vote total.

The picture is an interesting composite of characters. Please note Mayor Rybak during his first term without a gray hair on his head. Also pictured is Chief Dolan, who was then Inspector Dolan of the Fourth Precinct. The female on the left is Sharon Lubinski, who is now Assistant Chief, but was recently appointed U.S. Marshall for the District of Minnesota.



Above, Samuels displays the rope which held up his tent during his July of 2003 fasting vigil in the Jordan Neighborhood.



Above, Don Samuels with his daughter, Saina. (Pronounced "Zay-nah") 



Don posing with his family after the swearing-in. The young woman on the left is Asante Samuels, who is in that "too cool to be seen with my parents" phase. (No matter how good her parents are at fighting crime!) Word is Asante is going to have some instructional cooking videos up on YouTube in the near future, which will feature both Asante and her father. I've had some pastries baked by Asante and she is an excellent cook.

Congratulations, again, Don and we're looking forward to you fulfilling your promise to work EVEN HARDER in the next four years to keep making our neighborhood better.

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Mayor Rybak Highlights North Minneapolis Progress In Inauguration Speech...

At his inauguration speech yesterday, Mayor Rybak spoke about how--four years ago--a decision was made to concentrate on making life better in North Minneapolis, and how that effort is paying off handsomely. Here is video of that portion of Rybak's speech.

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JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Photo Of Notorious Slumlord Mahmood Khan!

Photo By Megan Goodmundson

Mahmood Khan hit the public radar in a big way when the body of Annshalike Hamilton turned up at his decrepit, neglected property at 2222 4th Street North. (The crime is still unsolved) That incident led neighborhood activists to scrutinize Khan's property holdings more closely and realize this guy...

...had a bunch of slummy properties. Recently, the city council voted to raze 2222 4th St. N. after giving Khan plenty of slack...slack he only used to hang himself.

Despite all the attention paid to Khan on this blog, no picture of him was available. That is to say, until today.

Megan Goodmundson snapped this photo of Khan at yesterday's swearing-in of the Mayor and city council. At the ceremony, Khan was observed to speak with Robert Lilligren, Ward 6, and Don Samuels, Ward 5. He then proceeded to follow Megan Goodmundson around like a big slummy puppy dog, trying to get information about what she wanted with the photo.

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STORY IN PHOTOS: Mayor And New Council Members Sworn In...

Contributed photos xoxo, blog post by John Hoff

This morning, elected and (mostly) re-elected Minneapolis City Council Members were sworn in at City Hall. The swearing-in itself was surprisingly brief, according to a source (Megan Goodmundson) who was present at the invitation of Council Member Don Samuels.

The program went from 9:30 to 10:30, and included a welcome speech by Addisalem Tesfaye, who is an Ethiopian immigrant and a graduate of the "Step Up Intern" program. There was an invocation by Rev. Mariann Budde of St. John the Episcopal Church, and music by the City-County Choir. Speeches were made by...


...Council Member Barb Johnson, who was unanimously re-elected Council President shortly afterward, and also Mayor Rybak, who went out of his way to highlight the progress made in North Minneapolis during the last four years.


Above, "Step Up Intern" Graduate Addisalem Tesfaye gives welcoming remarks, and talks about how--in Ethiopia--her family wasn't privileged enough for her to be educated beyond 4th Grade. The day her mother told her she was moving to Minnesota, she was so excited because she knew her life would be changing forever.
The City-County Choir played The Star Spangled Banner and Let There Be Peace On Earth. 

Above, MPD Chief Dolan, whose incredible victory over crime made the re-election of so many city council incumbents possible. FOR GOD'S SAKE, RE-APPOINT THIS MAN!
The program for the city council swearing-in. Simulated parchment...ooooooo! Better put that in the scrap book.


An honor guard of police escorted the American and state flags to the swearing-in. How ironic that, only several days before, this city government enabled the senseless destruction of the home of Pauline Fjelde, who embroidered the first Minnesota state flag.

A view, looking up, of the spectacular interior of City Hall.

Barb Johnson gives inaugural remarks after the swearing-in. The oath--pictured in the very top picture--was administered by Minneapolis City Clerk Steve Ristuben.

In the background of the event, being quiet and unobtrusive, Officer Mark Klukow provides security to make sure there are no Al-Flowers-style disruptions of the proceedings. Notably, an actual mental case named Tore Simonsen was present. (Please note, I am NOT writing in the sarcasm font) Simonsen has a blog obsessively dedicated to a television program named "Dollhouse" and showed up to tell public officials about the need to save the program, handing out playing cards upon which he had written his blog address on and the words "SAVE DOLLHOUSE." The show is about people who have their minds erased and get "programmed" as a whole new person. Here is a link to Simonsen's post about the inauguration, and here is a link to a post about his mental health records.

Speaking as a former military psych tech, I just want to say...this guy needs to be monitored. End of editorial.

Fortunately, the day went off on schedule, without a hitch. Our city appears to be on the right track, and hopefully we can keep building on the momentum of change.

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Mortgage Fraud Trials Pending For Tynessia Snoddy, Susan Newell...

Contributed Photo, 1564 Hillside Ave. N., involved in mortgage fraud 

According to the Media Relations Office of the Hennepin County Attorney, "the curtain rises tomorrow" on the trial of Susan Newell for mortgage fraud. 

A previous trial of Newell resulted in a hung jury. Rumor around the courthouse is a single juror decided to stick with her dictionary definition of "swindle" rather than the statutory definition. That probably won't happen again with this trial. Click here for more information about the charges against Susan Newell.

Also, many JNS Blog readers have been wondering when the trial of Tynessia Snoddy will move forward. Word from Media Relations is a hearing will happen on March 19, 2010 and the trial itself is set for July 6, 2010. Snoddy is charged with four counts of identity fraud. The facts of her case are intertwined with those of convicted mortgage fraudster Larry Maxwell. 

Snoddy--whose birthday is 4/30/1974--is reportedly represented by criminal defense attorney Emmett Donnelly, whose clients include, for example, Jamaal Freeman, who was accused of killing bicyclist Mark Loesch, click here for the criminal indictment.

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Hennepin County Attorney Keeps Busy With North, Northeast Crime...

Stock Photo By John Hoff

Recently, while trying to flesh out a blog post about Edgar Barrientos--a convicted murderer whose arrest was featured on an episode of A&E's "The First 48"--I found myself on the County Attorney's website, looking at an alphabetical list of recent criminal complaints, click here for the site.

To my delight, I was able to pull up numerous criminal complaints which involved cracking down on North and Northeast Minneapolis crime, including the shooting of Haywood Eaton (pictured above) and emergency assistance fraud where some North Minneapolis addresses were involved. The complaints were not brief summaries, but images of the original documents.

I had to wonder why I'd never been to this site before, since it was so useful, but then I noticed the site was turning up relatively low Google rankings when I was searching for "Edgar Barrientos."

I thought it would be informative to go through the long alphabetical list of criminal complaints and pull out some interesting cases which are North and Northeast Minneapolis related...


It should be noted most of the crime documented in the online criminal complaints is NOT from North and Northeast. All of Hennepin County is represented, including suburbs.

So here we go, not quite in alphabetical order.

First, YOLANDA WILLIAMS was (allegedly) involved in welfare assistance theft, and several of the addresses used--fraudulently used, it appears, and not actually OWNED by fraudsters--were in North Minneapolis. Yolanda Williams was an insider, working for Hennepin County. Click here for a copy of her indictment. Another of the Hennepin County insiders was FELECIA BELL, click here for her complaint document. Yet another names AARON MAURICE SHAW II, click here for the complaint document.

It appears something of a "house cleaning" has been going on with Hennepin County. A Buildings Operations Manager named ANGELA MARIE BENNETT-DWANYEN was charged for claiming more than 500 hours of work time in which she allegedly wasn't working, click here for the paperwork. Also, the employee of a contractor working for Hennepin County--Scott Oldenburg--was charged for allegedly stealing phone equipment, click here for complaint document.

If I had to take a guess about how things went down in Hennepin County, I'd say that somewhere along the line somebody was accused of wrongdoing, and began spilling the beans on others...and that caused a whole chain of fraud and deceit to unravel.

Moving on from the "Hennepin County insiders" to other crime...

The criminal complaint against DENNELL "L'IL DON" RAY MALONE, JR. in the shooting of Haywood Eaton contains little information NOT already found in the media, except for the fact no less than six witnesses fingered Malone from a photo lineup. The criminal complaint was made before Malone was in custody. Click here for the criminal complaint. Malone took a plea and has already been found guilty in the shooting, so maybe it's safe to buy a burger again at the Burger King next to the notorious drug-infested Hawthorn (sic) Crossings strip mall.

Then again, maybe not.

CHRISTOPHER DINEAA BAHTUOH, A.K.A. "FAT CHRIS, killed a Roosevelt High School varsity basketball player named Kyle Parker. Click here for the criminal complaint. This shooting was featured on A&E's "First 48 Hours" in the episode called "Heart of Gold/Last Breath."

It was EDGAR BARRIENTOS who started me off on this whole search. Here is a copy of his criminal complaint, click here. Additional info not found in the media to date include gritty details of the melee of bullets, and the fact Barrientos--in his mid-20s--dated a girl of high school age who attended Roosevelt High School. The main connection with North Minneapolis is the fact Barrientos' attorney, Ben Myers, is a colorful, pitiable character from the Jordan Neighborhood.

JEFFREY ROBERT CHOSA is a resident of Northeast Minneapolis (2542 Polk Street NE) who was allegedly involved in a stupid and violent beating over $20 worth of alcohol which resulted in the death of the beating victim. Click here for a copy of his criminal complaint. A relative of Chosa--FRANKLIN ANTHONY CHOSA--was also involved and has his own charges, click here.

CURTIS LARRY COLEMAN was involved in a classic example of thug crime. In a dispute over ownership of a freezer, he ordered his pit bull named "Lucy" to attack the victim. The attack happened at 2222 McNair Avenue, which is in North Minneapolis, click here for the criminal complaint. It should come as no surprise this property is owned by notorious slumlord Gregge K. Johnson, who has been mentioned on this blog a number of times, and undoubtedly will be mentioned again. Gregge Johnson apparently has a propensity for taking in tenants who set their pit bulls loose on people. This event sounds eerily similar to the notorious incident at 1716 26th Ave. N., which set off the 2002 "gang house riot."

Curtis Coleman might be the thug with the pit bull, but it's Gregge Johnson who needs to be in jail.

Moving on from there...

ANTONIO RASHAUN DALE, a.k.a. "TROUBLE," last resided at 3718 Washburn Ave. N. In an altercation at Blondie's Bar in Brooklyn Park, "Trouble" shot and killed Romel Jones, Jr., whose nickname is "Bullet." Click here for the criminal complaint. One can't help but feel something like this was predestined when these thugs got their nicknames.

GEORGE WATKINS was charged with the murder of Jamis Marks in a Robbinsdale home invasion, an incident which received extensive media coverage. Watkins was found not guilty by a jury. Watkins was a resident of North Minneapolis, residing at 1127 Humbolt Ave. N. The property is owned by Amalgamated Gent Concern, LLC, a name which turns up as the owner of a troublesome property at 751 Tyler Street in Northeast Minneapolis, click here for more info.

Watkins was charged with false imprisonment and terroristic threats, click here for criminal complaint. An associate of Watkins named ARTHUR FIELDS is charged with witness tampering and terroristic threats. Both incidents appear to be associated with a woman whose initials are "J.H.," who was reportedly a witness against Watkins.

The other alleged person allegedly involved in the Jamis Marks murder, click here for criminal complaint, was Keith Merchand Hemphill, whose address is 2653 Lyndale Ave. N., Apt. 102. (It should be noted 2653 Lyndale Ave. N. is a condemned building. It was condemned April 10, 2009. The owner is Steven J. Gotham. Interestingly, Gotham's name turns up on another Hawthorne Neighborhood property, a vacant lot at 2826 Bryant Ave. N., which has now gone into tax forfeiture.

GILBERTO HERRERA GONZALEZ resides at 1631 Sheridan Ave. N., a property which appears to be homesteaded by a relative with the same last name. Gonzalez is accused of raping a 3-year-old female and--based on the criminal complaint, click here--the evidence appears overwhelmingly solid.

PIERRE LAVONTAE GRAY is accused of second degree murder of a child. Basically, he beat his own daughter to death for urinating on herself, ALLEGEDLY. Click here for the criminal complaint. Gray's address was 412 Madison St. NE, a property where the taxpayer is listed as MDC 2000 Investments, Inc. and the taxpayer is a Doug A. Wahl. (Notably, the criminal complaint lists his address as "Madison Ave. NE" but that address does not appear to exist. It is assumed the address is, in fact, 412 Madison St. NE)

CAMERON JAMAL GRAY shot a man in the guts in a dispute over basketball, allegedly. The shooting happened in Northeast, in a park located at 1615 Pierce Street Northeast. Cameron Gray resided in North Minneapolis at 1215 Queen Ave. N. Click here for the criminal complaint.

MELISSA KATHLEEN HEUS was charged with criminal vehicular homicide, click here for the criminal complaint. She has already been convicted, click here for news coverage. Her residence was in Northeast, at 1839 Monroe St. NE, #1.

WILLIAM LEON LANE, a.k.a. "BIT-BIT," is accused of shooting and killing a man in the alley behind 1411 Plymouth Ave. N. (The victim and car turned up at 1416 11th Ave. N.) Luckily, "Bit-Bit" had a unique nickname, and officers managed to find him and charge him with the murder, click here for the criminal complaint. Also, "Bit-Bit" is not from North Minneapolis, even though he shot a man here. (Allegedly) "Bit-Bit" came to North Minneapolis from his residence in Plymouth, Minnesota to do his nasty deeds. (Allegedly)

RICHARD LOFTUS was allegedly involved in some kind of elaborate theft-by-swindle against his own wife and friends, click here for the criminal complaint, and his address is listed as 3711 Washburn Ave., but the swindle apparently didn't take place in North or Northeast Minneapolis.

SOBHY MEHRAT is charged with "going Lennie Chism" while operating a motor vehicle, driving aggressively and erratically while a female identified as "M.M." was trying to exit the vehicle, managing to damage 9 cars and a shopping cart coral. Allegedly. Click here for the criminal complaint. The alleged bumper car spree happened at the Cub Foods in Crystal, Minnesota, but Mehrat's residence is 4047 Bryant Ave. N.

BRIAN JEFFREY MILLER is accused of getting into some kind of stupid altercation and killing another guy with a knife, click here for the criminal complaint. Miller's residence is 2946 Ulysses Street, which the indictment misspells as "Ulyssess." For some reason, the indictment says the murder happened at the "1000 Block of Lowry Ave. NE" instead of giving a specific address.

PIERRE ROMEL MILLER was allegedly involved in the September 28, 2009 shooting which happened at a car wash in Northeast, click here for a link about that. Here is Miller's criminal complaint, click here. Miller is listed as "homeless" on the indictment, the only instance I saw of that. Kelvin Roberts was also allegedly involved in the murder, according to an account in the media, but no copy of the Kelvin Roberts indictment is currently on the Hennepin Country Attorney website.

EMILY ANN ROITENBERG lives in the North Loop Neighborhood--in a very expensive loft building, as a matter of fact, at 730 North 4th Street, No. 607--and wanted to inherit a large sum of money by having her mother-in-law whacked, click here for the criminal complaint.

CONNIE ANN STROUD was involved in a high-profile drunk driving crash in North Minneapolis--near the 49th Avenue North ramp--which caused a pregnant woman to lose her baby. Here is media coverage of the incident. Click here for a copy of the criminal complaint.

GARY VUE was indicted and ultimately convicted in a cold case; the July 10, 2001 "mistaken identity" gang shooting of a guy named Za Xiong, who was found dead in a vehicle at 3610 Humboldt Avenue North. Here is a media account about Vue's conviction, click here. Here is the criminal complaint document, click here.

RICARDO RYDALE WALKER was allegedly involved in the thuggish shooting of another thug at an apartment building located on the 3700 block of Girard Avenue North, click here for the criminal complaint. Walker's address was 2954 Oliver Avenue North, Apartment 1. The building is owned by a Jorge Morales Heyser of Rochester, Minnesota.

It should be noted only a small percent of the criminal complaints handled by the Hennepin County Attorney are posted on this website.

If you want to look up criminal records, a great source is http://www.mncourts.gov.

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Questions And Indictment Document In "Heart Of The Earth" Embezzlement Case...

Photo By John Hoff

The "Heart of the Earth" School was in the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood, which is in the same political ward as my own Hawthorne Neighborhood, which is Ward 3.

Due to my long association with the University of Minnesota, I make an effort to cover news stories in Marcy-Holmes, Stadium Village, and the West Bank...at least when I stumble right over the stories. More than a year ago...

I read some of the media coverage about the financial scandal at "Heart of the Earth" charter school and the charges against Joel Pourier, the former executive director. The school is at 1209 4th St. SE. Right after the scandal became public, I was going by the school one day and noticed this sign in the window, which I photographed.

Today, while going through the County Attorney's website to find indictments related to criminal behavior in North and Northeast Minneapolis, I came upon the rather long and involved indictment against Joel Pourier, click here for the indictment.

So...all of this information about the charges came out more than a year ago, but my question is: What happened with that? Was Pourier convicted? Is he still facing trial? What's the deal?

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Donny Dirk's Zombie Den - a Reason to Cheer in 2009!

Guest post by the Hawthorne Hawkman. Photos by the Hawkman, John Hoff, and Bryan Thao Worra.

This blog was proudly boasting about the hottest new night spot in town long before anyone else. (Click here, here, and here for a few other examples of the awesomeness that is Donny Dirk's Zombie Den.)

Well, it didn't take long for others to take notice. Most recently...

The Star Tribune listed Donny Dirk's #2 in their "Finding nine reasons to cheer Twin Cities culture in '09" article. (Disclaimer: Strib links often "go dead," and not in a zombiefied way, after a while, so this story may not be available in the future. Johnny Northside will always be there for you, however.)

Pictured above, the avocado-green exterior, some of the zombie kitsch found inside, and me showing off my Tommytronic 3-D racing game to fellow NoMi geek Bryan Thao Worra.

Hawthorne is proud to have Donny Dirk's in the neighborhood. Come on by, and you'll probably run into resident activists celebrating the most recent historic changes in our community!

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