Thursday, May 31, 2012

JNS BLOG SUPER EXCLUSIVE: Insider Info About Donquarius Copeland, Accused Of Murder, From His Time At A Juvenile Facility...

Facebook image, Donquarius Copeland in the middle, used under First Amendment fair comment and criticism, blog post by John Hoff. 
The photos DO NOT show Joe Meeks or Kyreon Watkins. 

Prior to being locked up in Anoka County on charges of assault, prior to being indicted by a grand jury for allegedly gunning down 13-year-old Rayjon Gomez, a crime that went too long unsolved, Donquarius Copeland (middle, above) spent some time at a privately-managed facility that deals with troubled juveniles.

I will simply refer to the place as "The Facility." It's not in the Twin Cities...

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Slumlord Keith Reitman's Feline, "Bucket The Cat," Dishes Up Insider Info About The Mortgage Fraud At 1564 Hillside Ave. N., The Police Investigation, And Jerry Moore's Purported Role, This Is PART 6 Of Jerry Moore v. John Hoff a/k/a Johnny Northside, Blogger Defamation Case Is On Appeal While Civil Suit Naming Moore Heats Up...

Keith Reitman stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

For three years I tried to get my hands on Keith Reitman's statement to police investigators in regard to 1564 Hillside Ave. N. I asked for it, I begged for it, I made verbal "Minnesota data practices act" requests.

Recently, the statute of limitations passed for criminal prosecution of crimes that took place during the "Golden Era of Mortgage Fraud," 2005 to 2007. The long-sought, much-coveted document casually fell into my hands after all this time.

And I discovered it was typed by a cat.

Quite seriously, the top of the statement reads as follows:

Irving Willie Madison Faces Charges For God Knows What...

Creative stock photo, military graffiti on the wall of an eating establishment near my "precise location," blog post by John Hoff

Irving Willie Madison, DOB 9/4/89, is sitting in the Hennepin County jail this moment on a bench warrant for Dangerous Weapons/Possess Dangerous Article, Substance.

Yeah.

First time I've seen THAT on the jailhouse roster.

The mind runs wild with possibilities...

What Is Up With The All The Nonexistent Addresses On The Hennepin County Jail Roster?

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

Juanio NMN Deleon, whose purported date of birth is 3/4/86, is sitting in jail this moment facing possible controlled substance charges. There's also a "hold" on him from the Aitkin County Sheriff's Department, with bail set at $6,000.

Deleon's address, according to the jail roster, is 2211 Fremont Ave. N.

That address doesn't actually exist...

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Possible Weapons Charges For Phillip Neal Jones, The Younger One...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

Phillip Neal Jones, DOB 10/25/87, sits in jail this moment facing possible "weapons" charges. His home address is listed as 2807 Colfax Ave. N., a rental owned by Helping Hands Inv Corp.

Jones' rap sheet reads as follows:

"Homme Du Jour" Arrested As Neighbors Watch, Here's The Background On Charles Anthony Williams-Whigham...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

A regular reader of my blog told me about today's arrest of Charles Anthony Williams-Whigham, DOB 11/1/82, who is currently residing in the Hennepin County Jail where he was received at about 10 o'clock this morning.

One neighbor describes Whigham as "homme du jour" (man of the day) to another local resident, and reports ever since Whigham has been around, "all sorts of unsavory characters have been making regular appearances." This morning was the finale, however, as (reportedly) two ambulances, six squad cars and a K9 unit were present before Whigham was led out in cuffs.

According to the jail roster...

PART FIVE, Jerry Moore vs. John Hoff a/k/a Johnny Northside Case Argued Before Minnesota State Court Of Appeals, Meanwhile "Third Amended" Lawsuit Names Moore And Describes His Alleged $5,000 "Kickback" For Introducing Felon Larry Maxwell To Slumlord Keith Reitman, Resulting In The Fraudulent Deal At 1564 Hillside Ave. N.

Jerry Moore, on right, at a 2008 event reaching out to North Minneapolis residents with problem mortgages, blog post by John Hoff

This blog post primarily concerns the allegations "in story form" contained in Melony Michaels' and John Foster's "Third Amended Complaint," a lawsuit filed against various individuals and businesses in the wake of the mortgage fraud at 1564 Hillside Ave. N., which sent Larry "Maximum" Maxwell to prison. 

Part One, "moore than meets the eye" with former JACC executive director Jerry Moore, click here. 

Part Two, a tale of two court trials, Moore has a foot planted in both, click here.

Part Three, a strange bounce of the legal ping-pong ball makes Moore a defendant, once again, in the civil suit, click here...and this after the crazy Mpls Mirror lady crowed about him being dropped. "Silence is deafening" from Moore's critics, Moore "vindicated," blah blah blah.

Part Four, the "cast of characters" in the lawsuit, including Jerry Moore, click here.

In this, Part Five, these characters will fall into place and act out their little drama of fraud, as outlined in the allegations of the "Third Time's The Charm" Amended Complaint...

Spanky Pete Meets Defeat, And This Blogger Has That "Headline Deja Vu" Feeling...

Contributed photo, taken when "Spanky Pete" was actually in the jail pictured, blog post by John Hoff

When an anonymous commenter left a link to Peter "Spanky Pete" Rickmyer's latest court defeat, my first reaction was, "Wait a minute, didn't I recently write about two of his court defeats?"

I went back to check the old article,  Spanky Pete Meets Defeat (Level Three Sex Offender Peter Rickmyer Manages To Lose Two Court Cases In One Day, Guess Who Is His Loony Toons Lawyer?)

And I compared it with the case at the other end of the posted link, Peter Stephenson a/k/a Peter Rickmyer v. Tom Roy, in his official capacity as Minnesota Commissioner of Corrections. In this case, Rickmyer challenges the lower court's denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. This is basically a "let me out of jail or prison" petition.

(Why was Rickmyer in jail? For throwing bad paper in the general direction of this blogger)

As it turns out, this is a "Spanky Pete" case I have not yet reported upon, even though the ruling was on May 9.

My bad...

Monday, May 28, 2012

"No Permanent Address" Doesn't Mean I Won't Publish Your Particulars From The Hennepin County Jailhouse Roster, Theresa NMN Bruce, DOB 10/5/78, Continued Case On Prostitution Allegations...

Creative stock photo from 2008, Apartment Complex of Anarchy, blog post by John Hoff

Sometimes I suspect individuals who are listed as "NPA" (no permanent address) on the Hennepin County Jail roster might be trying to conceal their address. So when I search the roster, I click on all the NPA listings, the "lives in his van" listings, the "doesn't know" listings, and sometimes there's "something about the name" which makes me click on it, even if their address is South Minneapolis (SoMi).

I don't know if that's the case with Theresa "No Middle Name" Bruce,  whose purported date of birth is 10/5/78, but it doesn't matter...

Good Citizen Rescues Dog At Penn And Plymouth, Thugs Demand $10, Citizen Says Hell No...

Contributed photo, blog post by John Hoff

Today a good citizen in North Minneapolis saw this poodle, pictured above, running around in swerving traffic near Penn and Plymouth. The citizen rescued the uninjured dog from traffic and while she was doing so, a couple of thugs demanded $10 for the dog...

Sunday, May 27, 2012

PART FOUR, Jerry Moore vs. John Hoff a/k/a Johnny Northside Case Argued Before Minnesota State Court Of Appeals, Meanwhile "Third Amended" Lawsuit Names Moore And Describes His Purported Key Role In The Mortgage Fraud At 1564 Hillside Ave. N.

Photo by John Hoff, Jerry Moore (in the middle) at a mortgage outreach event, blogger and Hawthorne Housing Director Jeff Skrenes is on the right, blog post by John Hoff

This blog post is primarily about the specific contents of the "Third Amended Complaint" in the civil suit filed by John Foster and his wife Melony Michaels over the theft of Foster's identity to commit mortgage fraud at 1564 Hillside Ave. N. and another property, even more specifically the "cast of characters" in the lawsuit.

There is a considerable backstory leading to the Third Amended Complaint.

Part One, learning there's moore than meets the eye with Jerry Moore.

Part Two, a tale of two court trials. 

Part Three, a strange bounce of the legal ping-pong ball, Moore's in the civil suit, no wait he's out, no wait he's back in again.

This brings us to the specific contents of the Third Amended Complaint.

Crack Open Your Lawyers Professional Responsibility Books, Students

The first thing I notice about the "Third Amended Complaint" is one name has dropped off the list of defendants. Slumlord Keith Reitman is not named on the revised list of defendants in the Third Amended Complaint. This sends me racing to the MNCIS online court records to look up the case and discover...

Images, 810 30th Ave. N., Subject Of A Previous Story About "Damascus Way Reentry Center"


Anonymously contributed photos, thank you, blog post by John Hoff


The house at 810 30th Ave. N. was the subject of a recent blog post, hitting my radar after a predatory offender on the jail roster reported it as his address, causing me to do some digging.

And then more digging.

Then I find myself asking the question which seems to upset my detractors so much:

WTF?

I still don't have the answers to my "WTF," but in the meantime a behind-the-scenes contributor sent me two images of the house in question, so at least readers can picture what I'm writing about.

Hmmmm. Looks like some nice, large picture windows have been blocked off and replaced with smaller windows. No screens in those upstairs windows.

(Sarcasm font)

Classy.


Selected Memorial Day Weekend Arrests From The Hennepin County Jail Roster...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

I'm almost holding my breath.

It's SUNDAY of Memorial Day weekend and yet, as far as I can tell from my Google news searches, nobody has died in a hail of bullets over who-might-be-bonking who, or found themselves accidentally shot while trying to make a deal over a "janky" handgun or, killed some little kid, accidentally or on purpose. Allegedly.

The efforts of police to crack down on drugs and guns in North Minneapolis, the use of shot spotters and surveillance cameras, the efforts of ordinary citizens to call 911, it all seems to be paying off in a peaceful Memorial Day weekend.

But you have to wonder if the difference between "peaceful" and "bloody" rests upon nothing more than a little bit of extra effort some officer took to get a gun off the street.

With thankfulness to these officers, and the good citizens who may have called 911 to bring the officers around, I am publishing the names of selected arrestees with (reported) North Minneapolis addresses whose charges are, well, interesting to me...

PART THREE, Jerry Moore vs. John Hoff a/k/a Johnny Northside Case Argued Before Minnesota State Court Of Appeals, Meanwhile "Third Amended" Lawsuit Names Moore And Describes His Purported Key Role In The Mortgage Fraud At 1564 Hillside Ave. N.

Photo, (taken circa 2008 at "mortgage outreach" event Moore helped organize) blog post by John Hoff

This post primarily concerns the "strange bounce of the legal ping-pong ball" which made Jerry Moore a defendant, once again, in the civil suit filed over the mortgage fraud at 1564 Hillside Ave. N.

Meanwhile, I am appealing a judgment in a defamation lawsuit which involves writing stuff about Moore being "involved" in the mortgage fraud at 1564 Hillside Ave. N., shortly before he lost a job at the University of Minnesota where he (stomp stomp) researched stuff involving MORTGAGES.

Click here for Part One, a neighborhood in turmoil, Moore at the center of the storm.

Click here for Part Two, a tale of two trials deeply rooted in North Minneapolis issues.

So, to continue: Melony Michaels and John Foster, who were the identity theft victims of Larry Maxwell's "imposter Foster," (a crackhead named Kingrussel) filed a lawsuit against a host of individuals and business alleged to be liable for the damages they suffered from having a lifetime of carefully-managed credit torpedoed like the Lusitania.

But the first lawyer they hired (through a prepaid legal plan) did a terrible job...

Rayjon Gomez's Mother, Carmen Rochelle Gomez, Passes Through Hennepin County Jail, Hardly For The First Time Nor, I Suspect, The Last...

FB photo, used under First Amendment comment and criticism, blog post by John Hoff

Carmen Rochelle Gomez, DOB 9/19/1956, the mother of tragic young murder victim Rayjon Gomez, pictured above, passed through the Hennepin County jail recently.

The Hennepin County Jail Roster shows a "hold" for another county (Ramsey) and a $500 bond posted. Carmen was jailed on 5/25, released the next day. Interestingly, Carmen's birthday on the roster is "9/20/56." This is one day off from the birthday shown repeatedly on court records, which is 9/19/56 like that of her identical twin sister.

Carmen's long criminal record was previously discussed on this blog, click here.

It has been consistently alleged by commenters to this blog that Rayjon didn't spend his whole life being raised by his biological mother.

Carmen's adress on the jail roster was 3341 Oliver Ave. N., an address this blog previously linked to a Deshaunta Dmar Gomez, who has also passed through the jail.


Friday, May 25, 2012

PART TWO, Jerry Moore vs. John Hoff a/k/a Johnny Northside Case Argued Before Minnesota State Court Of Appeals, Meanwhile The Ink Is Barely Dry On A Revised Lawsuit Naming Moore As Defendant, And Alleging Participation In The Mortgage Fraud At 1564 Hillside Ave. N.

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

For the back story on 1564 Hillside Ave. N., which led to identity theft victims Melony Michaels and John Foster filing a lawsuit against individuals allegedly involved in the fraudulent mortgage at 1564 Hillside Ave. N., click here for PART ONE.

Nope, Not Involved With That

It was the spring of 2009, and two important trials took place. One was the criminal trial which sent Larry Maxwell to prison. That trial was "wrapping up" in early April. In mid-to-late May of that same spring, the "True JACC" trial took place as rival factions fought over who was the legitimate leadership of the neighborhood organization. (Kip Browne's "New Majority" group, as it turned out, and the game wasn't even CLOSE)

There was a link between the two trials...

Image Of "Scorn Holler," Where The Obstructionist Dunderhead Holler Family Killed The Dreams Of A Neighborhood...

Photo some dude sent me on Facebook, who knows where HE got it, but it's posted under First Amendment commentary and criticism, blog post by John Hoff

I used to live in Appalachia.

No, I'm not making this up for parody. I actually did, while I worked in Shenandoah National Park. I did this for quite a while when I was in my twenties, and reveled in the "mountain folk" culture.

In that part of the country, people describe where they live based on their "holler" (hollow, a small valley between mountains) and the hollers often have colorful names with interesting back stories.

Well, spill my moonshine! It turns out we have a "holler" right here in North Minneapolis and like certain cartoony stereotypes of mountain people...

Petition For Disciplinary Action Filed In Regard To "Counsel For Crazy Town" Attorney Jill Clark, The Hon. Judge Gerald J. Seibel To Make Recommendations By August 31, 2012...

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

The "law career train wreck in slow motion" which is attorney Jill Clark may have a long way to go before it comes to rest in a smoking pile of twisted metal, but the bitter end might be in sight...

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Kevin M. & Valerie Holler 4111 Washburn Ave N Minneapolis Mn 55412, Lone Property Holdouts Who Sank A New Library For North Minneapolis, Refused To Sell Their Crappy Little Rental House At 1423 45th Ave. N.

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

Patch Dot Com reported the much hoped for, much anticipated new Webber Park Library has been removed from the 2013 Hennepin County budget. Instead, improvements will be made to the old library.

Patch Dot Com said, "The action was taken because efforts to assemble properties for the site of the new library – in particular, a parcel at 1423 45th Ave. N. – were unsuccessful. Acquisition of that site was considered essential."

Of course, Patch Dot Com didn't take things to the next level and name the names of the progress-destroying, neighborhood-screwing lone hold outs.

Well, this ain't Patch Dot Com.

There will be bloggy hell to pay...

Sad, Rubble-y Remains Of "Thug Store" E & L Food Mart Still Remain, Nearby Residents Unhappy...

Photo by farmpeddlar1, blog post by John Hoff

E & L Food Mart, which this blog publicly called out as a classic North Minneapolis "inconvenience store," click here, and which burned down April 28, click here, and also here, is now a pile of rubble.

Unlike the rubble from Broadway Liquor Outlet, which was recently hauled away, the "thuggy rubble" from E & L remains. One of the commenters on my blog summed up how residents of the area feel in the following mildly-profane rant...

Pile of Rubble Cleared From Former Site Of BLO (Broadway Liquor Outlet) And, In A Minor Side Note, This Post Marks The "End Of Special Mention For Cell Phone Originated Images" Era On Johnny Northside...

Cell phone photo by farmpeddlar1, blog post by John Hoff

"Farmpeddlar1" took this photo with a cell phone and forwarded it to me. Clearing the rubble away from the former Broadway Liquor Outlet location is a small milestone for tornado recovery in North Minneapolis and I thought somebody should document it.

In a minor aside, this blog has always made sure images come with "photo credits," a sort of obsessive journalism school habit. And in crediting photos, I've always gone out of my way to mention whether the photo is from a cell phone. Well, lately...

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

PART ONE, Jerry Moore vs. John Hoff a/k/a Johnny Northside Appeal Argued Today Before Minnesota State Court Of Appeals, As Word Reaches Me Moore Is Back To Being A Defendant In The Civil Suit Over Mortgage Fraud At 1564 Hillside Ave. N., In Which He Was INVOLVED, INVOLVED, INVOLVED...

Photo, Jerry Moore awaits word of his fate the night after he punched a board member of the Jordan Area Community Council, blog post by John Hoff

At about 11:15 AM today, while my lawyer Paul Godfread argued on my behalf at the Minnesota State Court of Appeals in my "tortious truth telling about a public figure" lawsuit, I was doing two of my favorite things at the same time: Blogging (in this case, about a candidate for State Senate named Troy E. Parker) and teasing out juicy info about my NEXT blog post, which is THIS one.

So I wasn't at the Court of Appeals. I wasn't even in the same state. I called to ask my attorney how it went, so I could write it up for my readers.

Write it up I shall, but the info I received late last night and earlier today is far more pressing...

Civil Suit By Troy Parker, State Senate Candidate In District 58, His Lawyer Is "Counsel For Crazy Town" Jill Clark...

Photo (Troy Parker's website) and blog post by John Hoff

Troy Parker, who is running in State Senate District 58 against Bobby Joe Champion, filed a civil suit on or about May 2 against seven different business entities and (as per the persistent habit of "Crazy Town" lawyer Jill Clark) one Jane Doe.

The defendants in the case, besides Jane Doe who doesn't have an attorney, not even an invisible one, not yet, are as follows:

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Hot New Information Is Coming About The Civil Suit Filed By The Victims Of The High Profile Mortgage Fraud At 1564 Hillside Ave. N., In Which Jerry Moore Was Involved, But First A Drinky Winky At My "Precise Location"

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

The civil suit over 1564 Hillside Ave. N. is alive and some oh-so-familiar names are popping up.

Melony Michaels and John Foster, the married couple who were the ultimate victims of the mortgage fraud at 1564 Hillside Ave. N., which sent Larry "Maximum Maxwell" to prison for a number of years, have a new lawyer in their civil suit and, finally, things are going well for the long suffering plaintiffs. According to numerous documents now in my possession...

Oh, heck. It's time for a nightcap...

Predatory Offender Steven Rae Lund Reports 810 30th Ave. N. As His Home Address, WTF, Is This Some Kind Of Operating Halfway House I Didn't Know About?

Photo of website page, blog post by John Hoff

In the last few days, Steven Rae Lund, 12/5/68, was in jail briefly before being released. One of the charges listed, and possibly even dropped, was "Failure To Register As A Predatory Offender." Lund's address on the jail roster was listed as 810 30th Ave. N.

NoMi Duplex "Before And After Miracle" On The 2100 Block Of 6th Street North, Performed By Revitalization Heroes John Fena And Edwin Schumacher...

Photo from Facebook page, "Duplex Renovation Finale And 100th Birthday," blog post by John Hoff


John Fena and his partner, Edwin Schumacher, who are the force behind "FenaMacher Properties LLC," have pulled off a miraculous transformation of a duplex on the 2100 Block of 6th St. N. They have shared numerous photos online, such as an "Apocalyptic Beginnings" album, click here, and recently a Facebook "Before and After" album. There was an event marking the 100th birthday of the house and its renovation rebirth. Numerous residents of NoMi, including myself, were invited. I couldn't make it but I hope to find my way to the house in the not-too-distant future and see if there might still be some "miraculous leftovers."

A good idea of the amazing "after" can be obtained from this link to "Duplex Ad Photos," click here, which really highlights the transformation when compared to the "Apocalyptic Beginnings."

NoMi is full of properties like this one, waiting to be transformed, and many of these properties are available for a song, relatively speaking.

Buy in, join your neighborhood organization, contribute to online blogs and discussions, and get yourself a stake in an affordable neighborhood being miraculously transformed into an "urban utopia" by "revitalization heroes" like John and Edwin.

Recycle Bins Stolen From My Home, And For Three Blocks Around...

Cell phone photo by Nomistar, blog post by John Hoff

Word reaches me that my half dozen or so recycle bins were stolen within the last couple nights. The city was called to get replacement bins, and that's when I learned bins had been stolen from an area of about three blocks around my house on the 2200 block of Bryant Ave. N.

My theory is the bins are being used by meth heads for meth processing. I shared this theory on the "North Talk" Facebook page and one poster said it was more likely somebody was moving and so grabbed all the bins.

I don't think so. It's very easy and relatively risk free to grab cardboard boxes from store dumpsters. Why go to so much risk, stealing numerous recycle containers in an alley where anybody might see you and call the police? Somebody wanted a bunch of durable plastic bins VERY badly. My theory is STILL meth heads. The fact meth labs are often "out in the country" doesn't change my theory. It's not that far a drive from the Twin Cities until you are in relatively rural areas.

This incident has inspired me to write about an idea I've had for a while, a way of reducing crime in North Minneapolis by making better use of technology. I will get to it when I get to it.

Meanwhile I'm still in "scour the jail roster" mode.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Get Yer Free "Cordaryle Louis Jones" Information, Right Here!

Photo, blog post by John Hoff


Obviously, I do a lot of searching on the internet. I punch in names, over and over, and see what comes up. Then I try to summarize and link such information in a compelling way. In seeking out the "wheat" of useful info, I have to sort through a lot of "chaff."

For me, stupid "pay for info" websites represent chaff.

It occurs to me I'm sort of undercutting them. Somebody out there might be willing to pay for a background report on a no account dirtbag like Cordaryle Louis Jones, but here I am giving the info away for free. Who is going to need MORE info about his background after reading the stuff I turned up and put online for free? But these sites accumulate a MASSIVE amount of data. All I can do is chip away. The closest I get to upsetting their apple cart in a MEANINGFUL way is to publish the entire jailhouse roster.

Anyway, Cordaryle L. Jones is sitting in jail this moment, formally charged with Controlled Substance/Narcotics with a $10,000 bail. He's already in plenty of hot water after being convicted of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, then racking up a probation violation on May 18.

Jones lives at 3918 Fremont Ave. N., a rental owned by DeWayne G. Krogstad, whose home address is listed as 6310 Welcome Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, MN.

Jones has a conviction for aggravated first degree robbery back in 2007, which is how he became a "prohibited person" in the first place. He was sentenced to 48 months in prison. It's not clear to me how much time he served, if any.

But he's serving time right this minute, that's for sure.

Eric Jermain Chineth Faces Weapons Charges, Johnny Northside's Attempts To Create Illustrative Photos For Stories Of This Nature Reaches The Sublimely Ridiculous...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff, like it wasn't obvious

Eric Jermain Chineth, DOB 1/17/1976, has been released from the Hennepin County Jail on $3,000 bail, but has been formally charged with "Weapons Charges" and "Controlled Substance, Narcotics." This scumbag is innocent until proven guilty.

Chineth is no stranger to the law...

Details From The Criminal Complaint, Murder Committed By Pastor Derrick Trevor Griffin, But Hey Readers, Can You Find The Phrase "Whorey Jezebell Man Wrecker" In This Story? How About "Skirt Chasing Elmer Gantry"?

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

The Star Tribune had an informative article about the murder committed by Pastor Derrick Trevor Griffin, who killed the guy who was messing around with Griffin's estranged wife, click here. Though I don't have an issue with the STrib article, it tells the story of the murder in summary. This blog likes scrounge the "details left laying behind" by the mainstream media.

Also, after reading all the specifics about the murder contained in the criminal complaint, I find myself more sympathetic to Pastor Griffin than I was before....and, also, NOT.

Here is the complaint, word for word...

Hennepin County Jailhouse Roster, April 21 To May 20, 2012

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff


About once a week, now, I get some kind of griping email about why-oh-why do I have to post this information. This week I received a badly spelled, broken English email in which the party on the other end claimed to be "law enforcement" and said I was doing something illegal.

I really shouldn't call somebody an "idiot" three times in the same reply. It makes the party on the other end write in ALL CAPS. I don't like reading stuff in ALL CAPS.

Experience has taught me, repeatedly, that posting the jail roster serves a useful function and the data is valuable, despite numerous flaws.

Without further ado, I bring you...

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Doeonte Anderson Accused Of Fleeing Police In A Motor Vehicle, Has North Minneapolis "Mailing Address"

Photo accidentally created while I was trying to photograph a state capitol building, blog post by John Hoff

The name Doente NMN Anderson, DOB 11/25/84, catches my eye on the Hennepin County jail roster because his north Minneapolis address, 1816 Fremont Ave. N., has the words "mailing address."

I've never seen a notation like that before. Don't know how to account for it. Is he homeless but gets mail?

Doente has been formally charged with...

Level Three Sex Offender "Spanky Pete" Writes Whiny Letter To Sheriff's Department Complaining About This Blogger, Confidential Source Forwards Letter To...THIS BLOGGER, Ha ha ha!

Photo by a friend, blog post by John Hoff

Peter Rickyer, the Level Three Sex Offender who long ago crossed the line from Northside "gadfly" to perverted pain in the ass, recently sent a letter to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department. Rickmyer, who is unhealthily obsessed with a particular post on this blog featuring a picture of him, click here, wrote the following letter on May 16...

Saturday, May 19, 2012

"Securing The Block" For Old Times Sake, May 2012

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

To me, it doesn't SEEM that long ago, but it's been FOUR YEARS since I bought a dumpy little house smack dab in the middle of a four square block area the City of Minneapolis and neighborhood based organizations had dubbed "The EcoVillage." The area was, statistically, the roughest four blocks in Minneapolis. I was surrounded by crackheads, prostitutes, wrecked and devastated houses, and a small number of decent people who were doing their best to stay inside behind locked doors while drug dealers literally fought over who "owned" which street corner and the madness of "The Apartment Complex of Anarchy" spilled into the streets.

Not everybody was staying indoors...

Friday, May 18, 2012

Trash Haven Hook Fish & Chicken Closed Until They Can Comply with Licensing

Blog Post and Photo by Nomi Passenger

In a previous post I shared photos taken from my cell phone of the major trash problem at Hook Fish & Chicken on West Broadway and Fremont.  I also sent the same pictures to Minneapolis 3-1-1 to report the trash problem. 

As you can see in that previous post a commenter asked if I called 3-1-1 and I shared the first response I received from Nicole in the business licensing department which was...

Monday, May 14, 2012

Metlife Award For Neighborhood Revitalization Case Study Becomes Available, Oh My Word, That's Like The Kind Of Headline Mortgage Geek Jeff Skrenes Would Write...

Photo (EcoVillage In 2008) and blog post by John Hoff

I guess it had passed between my ears a while ago that Hawthorne EcoVillage won an award from Metlife for the incredible crime reduction that took place, what some policy wonks referred to as the "18 month EcoVillage Miracle."

The award was in 2010, or heck maybe it was early 2011 for the 2010 time period. In any case, it was a couple years ago. But the case study, authored by one Chandra Conway, was published in January of this year and didn't really hit my radar until somebody studying the "EcoVillage miracle" sent me a link today. I would have thought ubergeek "Hawthorne Hawkman" would have written about a report of this nature, but searching his blog and the rest of the internet leads me to conclude our North Minneapolis grassroots blogger media has not obtained the actual case study, though Jeff did write about the award itself, click here.

This case study is an incredibly frank document and makes mention of the colorful tactics used to turn the EcoVillage around. It names myself, Jeff Skrenes and Peter Teachout and discusses some of the tactics we used. Jeff gets the lion's share of the credit but this is, after all, a geeky document written by geeks, for geeks, and mostly about geeks. So I forgive Jeff for speaking to the author of the study about his, oh my god, SPREAD SHEET. (Finger down throat gesture)

It's a fantastic case study and my name is spelled right. Bring on the movie version, I say.

The Leaning Tree Of NoMi On Newton Ave. N.


Photo, blog post by John Hoff

Located at 2637 Newton Ave. N., this tree survived the North Minneapolis tornado one year ago, but leans at such an angle it appears ready to fall over. And yet it survives and inspires. I just wanted to share this image with readers, with thanks to the owner of the house for sparing this interesting tree from a chainsaw.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Dear Hook, WTF??!!??



Cell phone images and blog post by Nomi Passenger


The other day the dumpster at Hook Fish & Chicken, corner of Fremont and Wbro, was piled high. It caught my attention.  Today, four days later, the dumpster is spilling over and piling up on the ground.

To this I say Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. 

What gives, Hook?  Can't afford your Allied Waste service anymore? This would never fly in Edina, Plymouth,  or Golden Valley.  

Readers, I implore you, take a moment and give a call to Hook Fish & Chicken. Ask for the manager. Tell them you don't appreciate them literally trashing up our neighborhood and we won't sit back and let them do so. 612-521-3333.

While you're at it, give a call to Allied Waste and tell them we don't appreciate them allowing trash to accumulate in their dumpster either. Terrible advertising for their business. 952-941-5174.

(Do Not Click "Read More")

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Sixth "Watchful Weekend" Weapons Arrest: JAMES HENRY HORSHAW, DOB 8/26/93

Stock photo by NoMi Passenger, blog post by John Hoff

JAMES HENRY HORSHAW, DOB 8/26/93, was booked into the Hennepin County Jail on a probable cause "weapons" charge at 10:16 PM.

There is a JAMES HENRY HORSHAW who has a criminal record, but that guy's birthday is listed in online court records as 4/23/66.

But just because the name coincidence is interesting or it might be the younger guy's father, just because I feel like it, just because it's my "watchful weekend" concerning any and all weapons arrests and I WILL BLOG ABOUT YOUR DOG if your dog's name comes up while I research a "watchful weekend" weapons arrest, here's the criminal record of the OTHER James Henry Horshaw:

JNS BLOG EDITORIAL: Dear U.S. Bank CEO Richard Davis, Consider Yourself And Your Company To Be OFFICIALLY VILIFIED For Your Banking Practices In North Minneapolis...

Cell phone camera image and blog post by John Hoff, thanks to NoMi Passenger for technical assistance with this image

In a recent STrib article, click here for a link which will eventually transform into a request for you to purchase the article, fat chance, US Bank's CEO Richard Davis defended his company's banking practices in North Minneapolis and was quoted as follows:

"I refuse to have this company vilified as someone (sic) who's (sic) not involved in north Minneapolis, not deeply engaged in the welfare of everyone who lives up there with the branches that we have and the production and performance we have, and have anyone try to cast a claim on this company for one loan when the facts have not been registered accurately yet so far anywhere."

Oh, my word, where to begin? Let's start with the minor and work our way to a couple mega-misrepresentations of the reality we experience daily "up here" in North Minneapolis...

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Fifth "Watchful Weekend" Weapons Crime Arrest, JASZARELL LADAWN TALFORD, Who Reportedly Lives At 4501 Camden Ave. N.

Stock photo by NoMi Passenger, Fourth Precinct Thanksgiving dinner, blog post by John Hoff

Jaszarell LaDawn Talford, DOB 7/14/93, was jailed last night, about half an hour before midnight, on "probable cause" weapons charges. Unable to determine if "weapons" means "guns" or if it might mean just a sharp bagel knife, I've decided to err on the side of publication and throw this arrest in my "watchful weekend" blog reporting in support of MPD's saturation patrols for drugs and weapons.

Jaszarell, who (based on my internet search) is likely the only person on the planet named "Jaszarell," has apparently tried to get hired as a babysitter in the past...

Fourth "Watchful Weekend" Gun Crime Arrest, Chris Obrien Shaw, Felon In Possession Of A Firearm, Allegedly...

Creative stock photo (civil war cannon) and blog post by John Hoff

Chris Obrien Shaw, DOB 12/23/83, arrived at the Hennepin County Jail around 4 this morning, and is listed under "felon in possession of firearm." Shaw's address listed on the roster is 4153 Aldrich Ave. N., which is...

Third "Watchful Weekend" Gun Crime Arrest: MATTHEW P. ROBINSON Who Reportedly Lives In The "Moghul Empire of Slum" At 716 21st Ave. N.

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

Matthew P. Robinson, DOB 2/26/93, was received by the Hennepin County jail yesterday at 9:38 a.m. and faces a possible charge of "carry/possess pistol w/o permit in public place, gross misdemeanor, second or subsequent felony." This was, however, a bench warrant...

Friday, May 4, 2012

Second "Watchful Weekend" Gun Crime Arrest, BRION DUJUANT SPILLER

Not sure if I took this photo or somebody else did, blog post by John Hoff

Watching the jailhouse roster like a hawk this weekend, fulfilling a promise to write about anybody arrested for a gun crime who lists a North Minneapolis address, a second fish has been caught in my bloggy net...

JOSE SABINO DAN MALDONADO-MONTOYA Has A North Minneapolis Address, Allegedly Deals Hard Drugs On Lake Street E And 21st Ave. S.

Creative stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

JOSE SABINO DAN MALDONADO-MONTOYA has been sitting in jail since April 4 of this year, his bail set at a quarter of a million dollars. He was arrested for drug crimes allegedly committed at Lake Street E and 21st Ave. S. on the same date as his arrest according to a "community prosecution" website operated by the Hennepin County Attorney, click here. 

Maldonado-Montoya is formally charged with "controlled substance, narcotics" and has charges listed that include "not small amount" of marijuana, but also three charges totaling 60 grams of hard, hard drugs in the cocaine/heroin/meth category.

His home address is listed on the jail roster as 2203 Sheridan Ave. N., a home owned by Thomas Rodriquez (sic) with the taxpayer listed as Yuridia Lopez, 17 White Bear Ave. S., St. Paul, MN.

First Weekend Gun Crime Arrest, Fresh And Hot Off The Jailhouse Roster: RONNIE JAMES WOODS...

Contributed photo or maybe I took this photo, not sure, blog post by John Hoff

As promised, I am publishing information about anybody with a North Minneapolis address arrested this weekend for an alleged gun crime. This is my way of supporting MPD's "saturation patrols" for guns and drugs.

Checking the roster first thing Friday morning, so far only one fish has turned up in my bloggy net, but it's a fish with lots of criminal history...

Torrie Danielle Norvell, Facing Drug Charges, Reportedly Makes Home In Slumlord Keith Reitman's Ugly Ass Chocolate Brown Building...

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

The building pictured above is NOT slumlord Keith Reitman's Ugly Ass Chocolate Brown Building.

No, this is one of the "Blue Sisters." This building (and its equally slummy sister, careful as you look at it, you can get splinters in your eyes just from LOOKING at it) recently won the "what should Johnny's next blogging obsession be?" contest.

I just thought I'd make it perfectly clear why...

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Donquarius Copeland, Accused Of Killing 13-Year-Old Rayjon Gomez, Transferred To Hennepin County Jail, Attorney In Anoka County Assault Case Was BOBBY JOE CHAMPION...

Photo from Facebook profile of Donquarius Copeland, known on Facebook as "BD DQ YnT," used under First Amendment Fair Comment And Criticism, blog post by John Hoff


Donquarius Copeland, indicted by a grand jury on charges of killing 13-year-old Rayjon Gomez in a drive by shooting, was sitting in the Anoka County Jail on unrelated charges when police investigators connected him (allegedly) with the Gomez murder.

All this time, it appears, Copeland has been in Anoka County. However, yesterday Copeland was transferred to the Hennepin County Jail, according to info found today on the roster.

Copeland lists...