Straight Jacket? Bullet proof vest? What is Rufus O. Victor wearing in his mug shot?

Mug shot therefore in public domain, blog post by John Hoff

Once again picking up information scraps ignored by the mass media (like the exclusive information first broken here on Johnny Northside Dot Com that an Illinois vehicle was involved in the fatal crash which killed three people, resulting in charges against the (alleged) driver, Rufus O. Victor) here's another brain teaser for loyal readers:

WHAT IS RUFUS WEARING IN HIS MUG SHOT?

Keep in mind Rufus fled the scene of the accident (allegedly) wearing a "red or burgundy colored shirt or jacket." (Check out the criminal complaint linked by KSTP, click here) When apprehended by police, Rufus was described as wearing...


...red pants and a red hooded jacket. The long hair--so long it was unclear whether Rufus was male or female--was consistent in both descriptions.

OK, so we know Rufus was wearing a red jacket. But what's that thing he's wearing in the mug shot?

It looks to me like a bullet proof vest or a straight jacket.

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CITY PROPOSAL WOULD "SCROOGE" NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS OMG!!!

Stock photo by John Hoff


SOUND THE ALARM! The Mayor and some on the Minneapolis City Council are proposing the IMMEDIATE freezing of ALL NRP FUNDS in order to balance their budget.

Downpayment assistance - gone.

Facade improvements - gone.

Funding for developments like the EcoVillage or Cottage Park - gone.

Police officer buy back money - gone.

Street light funding - gone.

Acquisition money for demolitions - gone (okay, maybe that's not such a bad thing).

Neighborhood staff - gone.

What would this save us? According to buzz on the Minneapolis Issues Forum, the average property tax savings per person would be $42. And for this, they claim they've "listened" to residents about property taxes.

The mayor and any city council person who votes for this is essentially reneging on a promise they made to the neighborhoods most in need. People, this goes before the Ways and Means Committee TOMORROW MORNING!

Call your city council person (or click on their name below and email them) IMMEDIATELY and tell them you oppose the abandonment of our neighborhoods!

Diane Hofstede 612-673-2203
Barb Johnson 612-673-2204
Don Samuels 612-673-2205


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Another Memorial Goes Up In North Minneapolis, This Time Where Rufus O. Victor Killed A Family Of Three...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

Above is an image of the memorial which went up yesterday at the scene of a deadly crash, where Rufus O. Victor killed a family of three while driving a stolen car.

What is there to say beyond that? Throw the book at this guy.


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Illinois Vehicle Involved In Deadly North Minneapolis Crash?

Star Tribune Photo, click here for original story, blog post by John Hoff

The image above is from the Star Tribune, and posted here only for purposes of First Amendment commentary and criticism. This image was with the Strib story about Rufus O. Victor, the no-account career criminal who crashed a stolen car and killed three people; a mother and her two children.

Look closely at the photo and what do you see? Is that an Illinois license plate about three feet to the right of the bottom of the man's bucket, upside down? I say it appears to have the following numbers: (Unknown digit covered completely by snow, then possibly a "0") 3 0934. Snow obscures most of the word "Illinois" and yet that does not appear to be a Minnesota plate. Note the blue tint on the bottom of the plate, distinctive to Illinois license plates.

I hope I'm not...

...seing the vehicular equivalent of a face in Martian rock, something which seems to be there but maybe isn't. But after playing with the image a lot, zooming in on it, etc. I come to the same conclusion: that's an Illinois license plate there at the crash scene. Three cars were involved, so which car did it come from?

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Lest We Forget: Buildings On West Broadway Which Met Their Dooooom!

Photos distributed on JACC listserv, blog post by John Hoff

For as long as I've been living in North Minneapolis and doing this blog--which is pretty much the same period of time, though the blog actually happened FIRST, slightly, kinda like how the Minnesota State Historical Society is slightly older than the actual state of Minnesota--I've made an effort to document the incredible transformation of our neighborhood.

Much of this transformation takes place due to the work of backhoes or, as it sometimes seems, one ferocious and utterly single-minded entity named THE BACKHOE OF DOOOOOOM!!!!!

These photos, above, are from August of 2010 but I found them in a (relatively) ancient email, and they belong on the internet. These images show...

...starting at the top, an apartment building on the "Jordan side" of the curve in West Broadway in the final stages of demolition. In the second photo, at the bottom, a building described as "the last house on the Jordan side of the Broadway curve."

One hopes the buildings which replace these structures will be well-managed, a boon to the neighborhood instead of a hindrance. If not, this blog stands ready to publish information and launch an endless series of scathing critiques.

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William Leon Lane a.k.a. "Bit Bit" Called An Innocent Man Victimized By A "Hurrendous Ackuasion"

Mug shot, therefore in public domain, blog post by John Hoff

William Leon Lane, a.k.a. "Bit Bit" was briefly mentioned on this blog in a kind of "round up" blog post I wrote about various criminal indictments, click here for that blog post. A couple of months ago, somebody sent me an email defending "Bit Bit" and taking me to task for what I wrote.

It's only fair that I would print this substantive, detailed defense of the supposedly good character of William Leon Lane, so here is that email, unedited, exactly as I received it...


Aldelila Sadd to John Hoff

hello Mr. Hoff my name is Ellie and I wanna discuss with u about something u had posted a column on January 3rd 2010 about William Leon Lane aka Bit Bit and Because of your column a lot of people jumped on his case and his against him. with out knowing the facts and anything about him. I know for a fact that he did not do this and u should really recap the event and re post the story because william is a great man fiancee son brother and father because of ur article and other falsiflying gossip he is being charged with a hurrendous ackuasion. you helped take him away from his family and loved ones. instead of posted gossip about him u should really be looking for the one who did this. and u need to look at the facts which is public information and no that no evidence points to william. because of the media and gossip it has made him guilty. I believe that is called trail by media. And u played apart as well. but the FACTS say that he is innocent. But i guess media is stronger then the facts. your input on this e mail will be greatly appreciated. And your not the only one gettin this e mail all the all the media is, and there will be more to come. the medias ackuaisons are untrue and this is unjust. please feel free to respond

My response as follows:

I did nothing but print a link to the criminal complaint with a brief commentary. I didn't make anything happen, that was all the justice system working completely on its own, but the best of luck to the justice system.

Until today, there has been no other mention of William Leon Lane, a.k.a. "Bit Bit," on my blog. In fact, until today I never even assigned him a metatag to make it easier for search engines to find my info about William Leon Lane.

I am printing your ridiculous email as a public example of the shrill, insane and poorly written b.s. I have to put up with because I publish truthful information about the pressing issues in my neighborhood.

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More Info About Re-Offense Rates Of Level Three Sex Offenders...

Stock photo and blog post by John Hoff

Like processing dumpster dived fruit in a late 1970s-style juicer found in an alley, so do I wish to process the names and current addresses of Level Three sex offenders in North Minneapolis, bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Helpful sources behind the scenes continue to send information my way about Level Three Sex Offenders, including this recent Department of Corrections newsletter which contains info about how often these sickos re-offend, click here for a copy of the newsletter on my document support site.

While I appreciate this info, I continue to make no secret about what it is I really want: the current addresses of every Level Three sex offender in North Minneapolis.

One might wish to compare the info in this latest document with the info contained in this previous document I already wrote about, click here for a link. This latest document tells us that 24 percent of child molesters are in prison because they are guilty of a re-offense (a rate higher than reported in the previous document) and 79 percent of these offenses are committed against individuals below the age of 18.

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JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Criminal Record Of Rufus Onel Victor, Who Killed A Mother And Two Children In North Minneapolis...

Stock photo and blog post by John Hoff

If I'd been an hour later, or if Rufus Onel Victor had been an hour earlier, I may very well have encountered him while driving on I-94 with my son. Allow me this opportunity to publicly praise the Lord. An hour after I passed by the Dowling Avenue exit on I-94, Victor took that exit while being pursued by state troopers. He crashed into two vehicles (one of which was occupied) killing a mother (Amanda Jean Thomas) and her two children, click here for news article.

Rufus Onel Victor has a criminal record as long as my arm, and here it is...




27-CR-02-012044
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
11/18/1981
09/09/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
ASSAULT IN THE SECOND DEGREE

27-CR-03-052554
1021596596
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
07/29/2003
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
NO VALD DL IN POSSESSION

27-CR-03-062214
VICTOR, RUFUS ONE
08/28/2003
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Brookdale
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
TRESPASSING

27-CR-05-044016
105624357
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
07/18/2005
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
TAMPERING WITH SECURED BICYCLE PROH

27-CR-06-024792
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
04/12/2006
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Brookdale
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
TRESPASSING

27-CR-06-067064
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
09/28/2006
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Brookdale
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
THEFT
TRESPASSING

27-CR-07-015167
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
03/12/2007
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Brookdale
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
TRESPASSING

27-CR-07-030915
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
05/14/2007
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
THEFT

19-T6-07-067979
5 642516
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
06/09/2007
- Dakota-Apple Valley
Non- Traffic Misdemeanor
Converted Closed
SHOPLIFTING

62-T7-07-015389
907190569
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
06/21/2007
Ramsey Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Petty Misdemeanor
Converted Closed
TRESPASSING

27-CR-07-106838
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
08/02/2007
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
Theft

62-T8-07-019595
907169099
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
08/31/2007
Ramsey Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Non- Traffic Misdemeanor
Under Court Jurisdiction
TAMPER WITH AUTO

62-T8-07-020195
907220158
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
09/12/2007
Ramsey Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Non- Traffic Misdemeanor
Under Court Jurisdiction
TRESPASS-DWELLING,BUILD

27-CR-07-129227
2070363664
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
12/20/2007
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Brookdale
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
Disorderly conduct in a public or private place.

27-CR-08-19869
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
04/22/2008
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
Receiving Stolen Firearm
Prohibited Person In Possession of a Firearm
Burglary Second Degree Dwelling

27-CR-08-49712
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
10/03/2008
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
Theft of Motor Vehicle-Felony

27-CR-09-41742
1090424530
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
08/20/2009
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
Theft-Take/Use/Transfer movable property without consent

27-CR-09-44265
VICTOR, RUFUS ONEL
09/02/2009
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Barnette, Toddrick S.
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
Burglary-1st Degree
Receiving Stolen Property

I also checked the record of Amanda Jean Thomas, who appears to have a birthday of April 4, 1981, and turned up minor traffic charges: one incident of failure to obey a stop sign, unlawful acceleration, and amplified sound from vehicle (all from one incident), and two speeding tickets. Not a meaningful police record.

I will be the one to give words to what many people will think, but hesitate to say out loud: it's too bad Rufus O. Victor wasn't killed in that crash, instead of the mother and her two children. If this man ever walks out of jail alive, it will be a failure of the legal system.

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Separated At Birth?! Vacant Lots At Big Stop And Wafana's "Inconvenience Stores"

Former "Big Stop" store, Jordan Neighborhood, above
Former Wafana's Store, Hawthorne Neighborhood, below

Photos and blog post by John Hoff

I wrote recently about how the "inconvenience store" at Wafana's disappeared off the face of the earth while I wasn't looking, but I didn't have an AFTER photo to show the glorious transformation. Click here for that blog post.

Well, here's yer AFTER photo and I can't help but be struck by the "family resemblance" between the vacant lot at the former "Big Stop" store in Jordan, top photo, and the Wafana's store, bottom photo. Except for the fact children have built snowmen on the Big Stop lot, there is VIRTUALLY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO LOTS.

Amazing. Another North Minneapolis instance of "separated at birth?"

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The "Problem Child Of The Block" Becomes The Residential Equivalent Of A Model Citizen!

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

It was only a couple of years ago when I wrote about 416 30th Ave. N. being the "problem child of the block." This house at 416 30th Ave. N. had garbage piles in the yard, until a crack squad of sanitation commandos landed, click here.

This is the house which once stole electricity from 3016 6th St. N, click here, which was the subject of some of of my very early blog posts, click here.

Oh, and then there was the time the fire department chopped down the front door because of a gas leak. Click here.

Finally the house was torn down, click here.

But now a new house, pictured above, is being built on the spot. (The green paint with the house number is a nice eco-conscious touch!) It seems only yesterday I found a mysterious cord attached to 3016 6th St. N., made of many wires spliced together, dangerously siphoning off electricity and melting a path in the snow all the way to the rear of 416 30th Ave. N.

Yes, it SEEMS like only yesterday but it was, in fact, a couple years ago. Here's what actually happened only yesterday: I was catching up on my email, and I learned a meeting of the EcoVillage Task Force had been canceled for the month of December. Why was the meeting cancelled, you might ask?

There was nothing pressing to discuss. It was better to concentrate on the upcoming holidays and meet later.

This is the progress we've seen in the Hawthorne EcoVillage, and it is amazing.

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3201 4th St. N. Has A Hot Date With Bulldozer Of Doooooom!

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

The white-painted brick house at 3201 4th St. N. has been vacant for as long as I can remember, and up until about a year ago it was the frequent target of squatters, including one notorious fellow who was well known for acts of defecation. (I hesitate to mention his name and call his spirit forth) When somebody put about a dozen nails in the door frame that helped keep the crackheads out for, gee, more than two years, now.

The house was in tough shape inside, but didn't look too bad from the outside. In fact, there is a sturdy wooden porch constructed in the past few years, it would appear. The house sits on the corner of 4th St. N. and Lowry Ave. N. It's more than a century old if it's a day. Online city records say the house is owned by Adrience Lance-Lucas of 6622 St Abernathy Dr SE Mableton, GA 30126.

Recently, a demolition notice hit the door. It's unbelievable how many buildings are going down, how rapidly everything is changing in North Minneapolis. This house sits on the periphery of the Hawthorne EcoVillage, though not inside the EcoVillage and actually in the McKinley Neighborhood, not Hawthorne. All the same, its demolition will represent progress in the EcoVillage area...though a sad, heart-rending progress.

We need renovation, not demolition. Every time something is scheduled to be demolished or actually gets demolished, I will say it, and I will keep saying it: As much as demolishing crappy buildings seems to help the neighborhood, it is a brutal fix: like cutting infected flesh off a limb. We can only carry this so far before we lose more than we gain.

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Hard Times For The Kleindl Slumlord Empire?

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

While driving around the EcoVillage area of Hawthorne recently, it seemed all was calm, all was bright in those four square blocks of urban ecotopia...except for one fly in the ointment, one smelly fish ruining the festive feast: the Kleindl slumlord property at 420 30th Ave. N., which had a utility shutoff notice on the door.

The Kleindl empire has had its ups and downs, some of which I've written about here on Johnny Northside Dot Com. It's hard to tell, moment by moment, whether the Kleindl empire is thriving or if the whole shebang is about to collapse like Imperial Rome. City records show the rental license at this property is "in review" as of October 4, 2010. The taxpayer is United Homes, Inc. (which is run by the Kleindls) but the owner is some bank.

One is tempted to "read the tea leaves" from little external clues such as the utility shut-off notice and the "license in review" but the truth is...who knows?

One thing is for sure: the EcoVillage, which used to be (quite arguably) the toughest four blocks in the city, is a massive success story of urban revitalization.

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Street Vendor License For Sandy's, Home Of The Knockout Dog!

Photos and blog post by John Hoff

Sandy's, a food stand which often sets up shop in front of Cub Foods in North Minneapolis, has reportedly been granted a street vendor license by the City of Minneapolis and--at some time in the foreseeable but more temperate future--will be setting up shop in the vicinity of the Gay Nineties Bar in the Warehouse District.

Sandy's is known for their Knockout Dog, a hotdog with enough fixings to outfit a small salad bar, and incredible specials like barbecued pork on a bun TWO FOR TWO DOLLARS. The granting of street vendor licenses has been much anticipated, and much written about in the media, as Minneapolis strives to become more cosmopolitan, urbane and just plain delicious.

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