Cedric Lamont Berry, Alleged Member Of "50 Zone" Gang, Charged With Weapon Possession...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

When Cedric Lamont Berry, DOB 7/17/94, ended up in the Hennepin County Jail his address was reported to be 505 Knox Avenue North. This is what originally drew my attention to him; a North Minneapolis address. The actual criminal complaint, however, lists Berry at 3313 65th Ave. N. in Brooklyn Center. 

Berry is reportedly a member of the "50 Zone" gang in that city where, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Hennepin County prosecutor, Berry got picked up and charged over a series of events so incredibly lame it's not even an exciting "thug life" story. Honestly, the man doesn't even deserve a stock photo as cool as the one I created, above...

And Now It's Time For A Halloween Whore Story...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

It seems like weeks, months can go by with little evidence of prostitution on Penn Ave. N. and nearby portions of Lowry Ave. Then one day the prostitutes are everywhere.

This story happened yesterday but since today is Halloween, I'm presenting it as a Halloween WHORE story. (Whore? Horror? GET IT?!!!)

I was driving on Penn Ave. N. and paying attention to the road (like a good driver should) while my partner in crime was watching for something to call 911 about. We agreed the day wouldn't really be complete until we called 911 on something, so the plan was to drive around until we saw something 911 worthy. This took, um, about 2 and a half minutes...

(Parody Post) North By Northside Blog Set To Propose Creative Solutions To North Minneapolis Feral Cat Problem...

Contributed photo, blog post by John Hoff

(This is parody for purposes of commentary on a substantive issue)

After my blog post about Joy The Cat Lady and the charges against her, plus Monday night's red hot discussion about Animal Control issues at Dessert With Don, blogger Jeff Skrenes left a comment promising a "rebuttal" blog post "momentarily."

Clearly, we have different ideas about a definition of the word "momentarily," but I'm sure that's just the beginning of the "Johnny is right, Jeff is a big meanie toward feral cats" differences between us when it comes to this one issue...

Three Stories By "Rusty" About Life In Minneapolis...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

About a week ago I talked to a guy named "Rusty" who has lived a colorful life. A lot of that life was lived in Minneapolis, some in Northeast and some in North. Encouraged by friends and family Rusty has been writing stories about his life.  He recently shared three of those stories with me so I could share the stories with readers...

Community Emotions Run Red Hot Over Issue Of "Cat Samaritans" Facing Charges For Allegedly "Ground Feeding" Stray Felines In North Minneapolis...

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

Monthly "Dessert With Don" meetings are always fun, a colorful exchange of ideas and information between powerful elected officials and any common citizen who shows up for free cookies like a stray cat looking for a handout.

But Monday's meeting was especially filled with emotion over this month's topic of Animal Control. The actions and fate of two individuals dominated discussion: Joy Mattice, the famous "cat lady of North Minneapolis," and another woman named Susan (I do not have her last name) are facing criminal charges for allegedly "ground feeding" stray cats in North Minneapolis.

Allegedly Did What She Freely Admits To Doing

That word "allegedly" applies only to Susan, the second woman charged. In extensive media coverage about the charges against her, Joy admits to feeding stray cats, click here. 

Before getting into the nitty gritty of this meeting, including a particularly driven woman who was proposing some kind of "final solution" to the city's raccoon issues, I would like to put forward a fairly extensive disclaimer about Joy Mattice...

Linda Higgins, Candidate For County Commissioner In District 2, Answers This Blog's Questions About Level Three Sex Offender Concentration In Our Neighborhoods...

Creative stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

In response to a request by this blog to address the issue of Level Three Sex Offender concentration in our neighborhoods, this morning I received the following response from Linda Higgins, who is a candidate for County Commissioner in District 2...

Complaint By City of Maplewood Against Former Mayor Diana Longrie Was Dismissed By Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board...

Photo from campaign site for Diana Longrie for US Congress, used under First
Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism, blog post by John Hoff

When former Maplewood mayor Diana Longrie stepped into the Jill Clark disciplinary mess, acting as Clark's fair to middling lukewarm advocate, this blogger started asking, "Who is Diana Longrie?" So far my answer has been "chock full of nuts, but she can't hold a candle to Jill Clark." Lord knows SOMEBODY has to defend Jill Clark in front of the state Supreme Court, and how glad I am to see a lawyer who doesn't seem very passionate about the task.

One interesting question that surfaced about Diana Longrie was a complaint made to state Lawyers' Board of Professional Responsibility by the city of Maplewood, click here for details on the (apparently defunct) Maplewood Voices blog. In summary, the complaint concerned whether Longrie had properly disclosed her previous representation of Patricia Gearin and Wipers Recycling when Longrie became the Mayor of Maplewood...

As Promised Sunday Night: Statement By Blong Yang, Candidate For Hennepin County Commissioner In District 2, On The Topic Of Level Three Sex Offender Concentration In Our Neighborhoods...

Creative stock photo, blog post by John Hoff or is it actually a BLONG post?


Last Sunday night Blong Yang, a candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner District 2 who is running against Linda Higgins, responded to this blogger's request for an on-the-record statement about the issue of Level Three Sex Offender concentration in our neighborhoods. 

The statement is as follows, word-for-word...

Remaro Cordell Smith, Reportedly One Of The Last People To See Annshalike Hamilton Alive, Is Facing Felony Domestic Assault Charges And GUESS WHO IS THE PROSECUTOR?

Contributed image, blog post by John Hoff

The mother of 15-year-old murder victim Annshalike Hamilton has not held back with her strong opinion about Remaro Cordell Smith, click here for this blog's exclusive story from early February, 2010. And, of course, Remaro hasn't exactly kept himself out of trouble in the last few years. (Hotel room, cough cough, bail bondsman, cough cough, stand off, cough cough) 

Now comes word Smith is (God be praised) facing serious domestic violence charges that could get him off the streets for a long time. And, oh my word, there's a special surprise about who is handling the prosecution. That piece of info is nestled in the charging document like a delicious, chewy, carmel-flavored center.

First let me say the charging document (click here) is very interesting because....

2619 Newton Ave. N. Goes Down, Sustained Damage In North Minneapolis Tornado...

Photos and blog post by John Hoff

The condition of 2619 Newton Ave. N. before the tornado is unknown to me. It probably wasn't in very good shape. But the tornado didn't do this place any good and, actually, was probably what put this property right over the edge toward a date with The Backhoe Of Doom.

Pictured above it what it looked like about a month ago. In the last couple days, however, 2619 Newton Ave. N. was demolished. Nothing is left now but a big, sandy hole in the ground...

"Bitch, I Will Kill You And Your Family And Everyone Up In Here! Everyone Is Going To Be Shot In Here!" He Said, Allegedly, And Smashed Virtually Every Breakable Object In The Place...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

Tiron Patrick Beane, DOB 12/14/85, is charged with two counts of felony first degree burglary but only because there is no such crime as "felony berserk rampage."

SHOULD there be? Read these facts and judge for yourself. Click here for the criminal complaint if you only want the official version...

Van Travis Bailey Accused Of Women's Bathroom "Wine Glass Smashed To Face" Assault At Gay 90s Bar...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

Van Travis Bailey, DOB 5/24/85, is accused of a bizarre assault in the women's bathroom of the Gay 90s bar in downtown Minneapolis. According to a criminal complaint, click here for a copy, a woman whose initials are AM is from Farmington, Minnesota, and went downtown with her female friend MO who promised to show her a good time.

At about 2:20 in the morning on April 22, it was time to leave the bright lights of Minneapolis and head back to Farmington. Better use the bathroom before the long drive back. AM and MO went into the ladies bathroom. Bailey tried to enter the bathroom...

Deonate NMN Anderson Was Allegedly Involved In Brooklyn Center Shooting, Lists North Minneapolis "Mailing Address" On Jail Roster...

Creative stock photo (soldiers oversees in combat zones get free postage just by writing "free mail" where the stamp should go) blog post by John Hoff

Deonte Anderson, DOB 11/25/84, is sitting in the Hennpin County Jail right now where he has been since May 15. According to the jailhouse roster, Anderson lists 1816 Freemont (sic) Avenue North as his mailing address. The city listed in "Minneapolis" though, interestingly, the roster lists an Eagan zip code of 55122.

How often do the jail personnel who put this information into the roster have to take drug tests? (Sarcasm font) I'm just wondering aloud, here, just a random unconnected thought. (End sarcasm font)

I recently obtained a copy of Anderson's criminal indictment over the shooting allegations, click here for a copy. According to the complaint...

Stop Dumping All The Level Three Sex Offenders In North Minneapolis (As Expressed By Punk Parody Song)

YouTube embed by JohnnyHoffa (same as this blogger) blog post by John Hoff

It was more than a year ago when I threw this song together along with some friends, not the least friendly of which was 100 proof alcohol, at least. It's a song about the unreasonable concentration of Level Three sex offenders (L3SOs) in North Minneapolis and a demand that our government officials (the Department of Corrections or DOC) stop allowing it.

The song is done in a punk parody style, and if you can't make out the words, well, here they are...

Jackpot! Now You Die! Scuttlebutt Circulates About The Murder Of Cordell Q. Dalton...

Creative stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

I was contacted by a source who wishes to remain anonymous, but whose information I believe to be factual or, at the very least, sincere. According to my source, murder victim Cordell Q. Dalton was gambling shortly before his death and had won a respectable sum. In fact, word is Dalton had more or less cleaned out the other players. What game they were playing is unknown, but I suspect it was a dice game based on Dalton's Faceboook page.

At least one of the other players was not happy about the turn of events and there was an altercation. This is how Dalton ended up dead, according to my source. 

Blong Yang, Candidate For Hennepin County Commissioner District 2, Issues Statement About Level Three Sex Offender Concentration In Our Neighborhoods (Statement To Be Published Tuesday Morning)

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

In response to a request by this blogger for an on-the-record statement about Level Three sex offender concentration in our neighborhoods, Blong Yang (a candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner in District 2) has issued a written statement about this issue.

"I have two kids," the statement reads in part. "I am very concerned about this issue..."

The full statement will be "auto published" at 11:06 on Tuesday morning.

Remember that election day is November 6 (11/6) and it will be a Tuesday.  Vote as your conscience dictates, but get out and vote. 

Feast, Little Googlebots, Feast! It's Hennepin County Jailhouse Roster Time Again! (September 27 To October 27, 2012)

Contributed photo, blog post by John Hoff, oh, wow, by some weird coincidence I am wearing that EXACT SAME SHIRT RIGHT NOW

The jailhouse roster proved its value tonight, linking a name to the address of a shooting. That's just the value I, myself, received this preserved info TONIGHT. Who knows what value the search-engine-using world is getting out of the roster? Yes, publishing the roster is mere hackwork, but it's useful public service hackwork.

Some people like to feed stray cats. I like to feed stray Googlebots.

Here is the roster...

More On 2655 Newton Ave. N., Scene Of Tonight's Nonfatal Shooting...

Creative stock photo, New Orleans, statue of character from A Confederacy of Dunces,
blog post by John Hoff

Digging more deeply into the address of tonight's non-fatal shooting, an individual named Rodney Pope is associated with the house in question. Pope has the same surname as the home's listed owner, Sherry Pope.

There is only one Rodney Pope whose name comes up in the statewide MNCIS system, and he just HAPPENS to live in the 55411 zip code. Coincidence? I doubt it...

Young Black Male Shot In The Leg Near 2655 Newton Ave. N., Multiple Witnesses All Uncooperative...

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

About 30 minutes ago Minneapolis police responded to shots fired at or near 2655 Newton Ave. N. I was in the area and heard at least three shots though, according to info on Police Clips, other callers thought it was a gunfight...

"Extensive Criminal Record" Of Victor Terrance Gaddy, And His Nephew Terrence Jovan Wilson Is No Saint, Either (Not North Minneapolis Related)

Stock photo, St. Paul police, blog post by John Hoff

This blogger can't explain why I am drawn to stories from St. Paul, lately. In the recent incident involving Victor Gaddy, shot and killed by St. Paul police with (reportedly) a crack cocaine delivery in the car, the STrib mentioned his "extensive criminal history" and a few examples of that history.  There is, however, more extensive and detailed information deposited in the dark recesses of online Minnesota court records which needs to be drilled and brought to the surface. Yeah, the story is in St. Paul but it's just too easy and too important for this blogger to neglect.

Pardon my "mission creep." Here is Gaddy's rap sheet showing charges. Not all of these represent actual convictions...

Homicide Victim Cordell Q. Dalton, What We Know From Facebook...

Facebook photos from profile of Cordell Dalton, used under First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism, blog post by John Hoff

His Facebook profile doesn't contain an overwhelming amount of "thug life" photos. It seems like mostly family images, including a number of small children who will not be pictured here. But Cordell Q. Dalton, who died in the street at Sheridan and 8th Ave. N., projected an image of being "in the game" to some degree.

In the picture above...

Cordell Quinton Dalton, Latest Victim Of Homicide In North Minneapolis, Had Drug Record, Was On Probation...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

Cordell Q. Dalton, the latest victim of homicide in North Minneapolis who was discovered laying in the street at Sheridan and 8th Ave. N., had a minor criminal record and was on probation until July 16, 2015. Online records show he also used the alias "Daltin."

According to online court records, Dalton's most recent criminal conviction was for 5th degree drug possession. Though Dalton had a year sentence hanging over his head, he was on probation after serving 35 days in jail, for which he was credited. His probation conditions included not being in possession of firearms.

He had another 5th degree possession charge in 2010, and was on probation for that a year. His probation ended June 15, 2011. In addition, he had been found guilty of driving without a valid license. Twice.

Oh, and he was on Facebook. More on that in a bit.

Dalton was reportedly a cousin of local peace activist K.G. Wilson, who expressed regret to the Star Tribune that he (Wilson) couldn't save a member of his own family but vowed to try saving others.

Johnny Northside blog extends condolences to K.G. Wilson. 

The Day The Crazy Parade Came To An End, PART TWO, Focusing On The Role Of Former Draft Office Raider Charles "Chuck" Larry Turchick...

Photo, blog post by John Hoff blogging from Alexandria, MN

By virtue of the fact he goes by "Chuck Turchick" and not "Charles Larry Turchick," a lot of people don't know the very interesting back story behind activist Chuck Turchick and his 1970 conviction for breaking into the local draft offices in Alexandria, Minnesota.  Google searches for "Chuck Turchick" tend to bring up his activism around police conduct issues and his writings for the Twin Cities Daily Planet. But search "Charles Turchick" and you will quickly find out the guy is practically FAMOUS as an anti-war activist in the early 1970s.

To get right to the heart of my online information goodies regarding this fascinating history, click here for the appeals court ruling and here for an extensive retelling of the story of the "Minnesota 8."

This is Chuck Turchick. This is where he's coming from. This is why he gets so worked up about abuses of police authority; because some unknown informant in his own organization sold him up the river in the early 1970s for breaking into a draft office. I haven't uncovered anything online to show the identity of this informant has ever been definitely revealed or discovered. (There was speculation it was a guy named Ulen, who helped break into the Alexandria office with Turchick but took a plea deal rather than go to prison)

Old Hippies Never Die, They Just Go Bald 

Most recently, former hippy Turchick was part of the "parade of crazies" loudly opposed to the oh-so-necessary overhaul of the Civilian Review Authority, click here for Part One. And though it may seem I have a critical tone toward Turchick by writing about these pertinent historical facts, I would like to start out by stating...

JNS BLOG EDITORIAL: New City Policies Needed To Stop Out-Of-Control Pit Bull Puppy Breeding...

No source stated for photo, blog post by John Hoff

The dark, low quality photo above isn't normally what I would use for this blog but there is a story behind it. This photo documents a sign hanging on a chain link fence in front of a house in North Minneapolis. The sign says PIT BULL PUPPIES FOR SALE.

This is the only time I've heard about a sign like this. Most times, when poorly bred and badly raised pit bull puppies are sold to anybody with cash in their hand you don't see a sign. You don't even find an advertisement on Craigslist. Word just flows along the "thug communication wire."

So let us suppose you are a neighbor and you can plainly see...

New Broadway Liquor Plans Are In The "Public Input" Phase...

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

About a week ago I spoke to Dean Rose, the positive-minded owner of Broadway Liquor who is determined to take the "lemons" of tornado damage and turn those lemons into Mike's Hard Lemonade.    
Rose took me back to his office and showed me plans for the new, bigger, improved and super dooper Broadway Liquor megaplex...

JNS BLOG EDITORIAL, FROM THE HEART: Julian "Funny Mo" Anderson Is Certified As An Adult In Nizzel George Shooting, JNS Blog Readers Knew His Name MONTHS Ago, What Is The Lesson Here? And How Do We Get To Urban Utopia When The Path Leads Through An Urban Jungle?

Creative stock photo, information wants to be unchained and run free, blog post by John Hoff

A press release was sent out today by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, announcing the alleged "second shooter" in the murder of Nizzel George had been certified as an adult and his name is Julian Kijuan Lamar Anderson.

Readers of Johnny Northside had the name "Julian Anderson" in a "JNS BLOG SUPER EXCLUSIVE" back on July 6, click here. In fact, this blog went further and found out information about the individuals who appear to be his parents, click here and here and also here. This blog speculated, not without some basis, about a connection between the street name "Mo" and gang involvement, click here. We even located what appears to be video of "Funny Mo" fighting in the street, click here.

Now certified as an adult, Anderson's name is visible on the jail roster, which lists his address as 2609 Colfax Ave. N. Of course, this blog already published THAT information and went so far as to report all the "calls for service" at that address, click here.

What Is The Lesson, Here? Social Media Can Move Mountains

Try as I might...

Fat Lady Sings Loud And Long In "True JACC" Lawsuit As Final Appeal Is Dismissed For, Well, Lack of Jack...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

The "True JACC" lawsuit, which was a dispute over who was the "true" ruling board of the Jordan Area Community Council, which took twists and turns and dragged on for a number of years with extensive coverage by this blog, has finally come to an end; not with a bang but a whimper...

Gangster Rap Video Shoot Goes So, So Wrong At Janine's, 1510 West Broadway, Now Under New And Idiotic Ownership...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

According to a reliable source...

On October 12, a citizen saw three males enter a convenience store at 1510 West Broadway with serious weaponry. The good citizen called 911.

Squad 424, Officers Schmidt and Fischer rolled up and saw several parties inside the store with their hands up and another party behind the register. The two officers set up a perimeter and called in officers from the Special Operations Division. The individuals were called out of the business and officers recovered two Obama masks and a replica handgun. One of the parties was still wearing the mask when he was taken into custody. A total of 8 people were detained, along with the business owner. The people inside the business told officers they were...

Wait for it.

Wait for it...

Gay 90s Shooting Incident Suspect Lives In North Minneapolis, Or Maybe He Doesn't...

Stock photo, Combat Outpost Arian, Afghanistan, blog post by John Hoff

Don Buddie Austin, DOB 5/27/92, is one of two idiots charged in a shooting incident near the Gay 90s bar in downtown, as reported in a Star Tribune article, click here.

This blog didn't pay any attention to that incident when it happened because it wasn't in North Minneapolis. But recently I was looking through the Hennepin County jail roster and I noticed Austin listed a North Minneapolis address...

A Heroin Delivery At 2951 Morgan Ave. N., Allegedly...

Creative stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

They say the really good heroin comes from Afghanistan, but who knows where this stuff came from?

According to a criminal complaint filed recently in Hennepin County, click here to view it, Lavell Terrance Alexander was making a delivery of heroin to the rear alley at 2951 Morgan Ave. N. when police--tipped by a confidential reliable information (CRI)--intercepted Alexander and the drugs.

A field test was performed and it was...

"Sorry Man," Bryan Adams Allegedly Said To Dude Whose House He Just Tried To Burglarize, Allegedly...

YouTube video embed, blog post is by John Hoff

Bryan Lee Adams, no known relation to the singer who had such hits as Heaven and (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, is charged with two counts of attempted burglary and was recently featured in a "jailhouse roster nugget." Incredibly, according to the criminal complaint, the home owner accidentally interrupted the burglary in progress when he heard "trying to open the window sounds" and saw Bryan Adams standing outside his dining room.

"Sorry, man," Bryan Adams reportedly said, not unlike the Bryan Adams above who sang, "Please forgive me, I know not what I do." But this OTHER Bryan Adams allegedly knew EXACTLY what he was doing...

Information I Found Laying Around About The Naressa Turner Murder In St. Paul...

Creative stock photo, taken recently in Texas, blog post by John Hoff

This is not a North Minneapolis story, but some information came into my hands in a random way and the info is valuable enough that it should become part of the public record. 

Neressa Turner died in a shooting about 3 PM Sunday behind the St. Paul church, click here for a KARE 11 news story. Subsequently, I received the following unsolicited email. It should be noted that no confidentiality was asked or granted in regard to the email...

JNS BLOG SUPER EXCLUSIVE: Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner Jon Olson Was Reportedly The Victim In Box Cutter Assault Near T Shoppe Bar...

Photo from Park Board Website, used under First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism, blog post by John Hoff

This blog and this blogger is sorry to hear Jon Olson, who sits on the park board, was apparently the victim in the box cutter attack in the parking lot of T Shoppe Bar, which I wrote about in two previous blog posts, click here and also here.

Olson is a public official and therefore an attack of this nature is newsworthy enough to print the name of the victim. The information came from a reliable source, who obtained it secondhand from another reliable source and passed it on within hours. It has been confirmed that Olson was the victim of an attack that disfigured his face, and then that information was matched up with what is known about the box cutter attack, including the initials of the victim, JCO, to determine the victim of the box cuter attack was Olson; albeit the word "reportedly" covers any lingering uncertainty.

We look upon our public officials to be leaders and so it makes sense that Jon Olson, though holding an office concerned with the management of park resources, should take it upon himself to come to the rescue of a woman who was being accosted by a drunk, paying an unexpectedly heavy price. This blogger wishes Jon Olson as speedy and full a recovery as possible. 

Details From The Criminal Complaint In "Boxcutter Brutality" Incident...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

I have a copy of the criminal complaint against Anthony John Ellis, who allegedly carved up a guy's face for jumping in when Anthony was accosting a female in the parking lot outside T Shoppe Bar, allegedly. Click here for the criminal complaint.

The Pioneer Press story says "the attack happened at a bar" but it's more accurate to say the attack happened out in the parking lot of the bar, though the confrontation between the two men...

Bryan Adams Held On Burglary Charges And Other Hennepin County Jailhouse Roster Nuggets...

Creative stock photo, recently taken somewhere in Texas, blog post by John Hoff

* Bryan Lee Adams, DOB 1/14/75, no known relation to the Bryan Adams who had such hits as Summer of 69 and Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman, is sitting in the Hennepin County Jail formally charged with burglary by the Golden Valley Police Department. He also faces charges of possession of burglary or theft tools.

Adams, whose address on the jail roster is...

Olympic Cafe Plus Raises Stakes In West Broadway Fried Food Arms Race With Exotic Fish Offerings, Frog Legs, And (My Personal Favorite) Chicken Gizzards...

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

After Megan Goodmundson told me Olympic Cafe Plus had frog legs I had to stop by and give the second Olympic Cafe location a try. I hesitated, though, some friends and neighbors on Facebook were outraged about one of their delivery drivers who reportedly whipped out his weenie and urinated on the fence at 1121 Russell, laughing about it, making no attempt to be inconspicuous in front of two women and a child.

To be fair, after the owner of the cafe was called (or some guy with a thick middle eastern accent who MIGHT be the owner) he sounded "genuinely horrified and apologetic." The little pink placard you can just barely see in this photo advertises for a driver so, well, maybe their "freshly squeezed urine delivery dude" no longer works for Olympic.

Maybe.

And why am I memorializing this incident for all time before reviewing the frog legs? Because...

The Day The Crazy Parade Ended, A Disturbingly Detailed Account Of What Really Transpired In City Council Chambers When CRA Overhaul Passed (Part One Of Two)

Creative stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

On September 21, the City Council passed a massive overhaul of the city's system for reviewing alleged police misconduct, as numerous mainstream media (including Channel 5, embedded above, reported in detail.

(ADDENDUM, NOVEMBER 3, STUPID VIDEO EMBED ISN'T WORKING AND IS BEING REPLACED WITH STOCK PHOTO. Channel 5, watch and see if I ever embed another of your videos) 

I'm here to tell you the colorful, boots-on-the-ground reality they didn't report, such as:

How Level Three Sex Offender Peter "Spanky Pete" Rickmyer took it upon himself to be a little city council gopher and distribute copies of Cam Gordon's proposed amendments...why the crazy Mpls Mirror lady wrote so critically about Channel 5 reporter Kate Renner...(OK, that's not hard to figure out, actually)...and some interesting background on rabid police critic Chuck Turchick, who was involved in breaking into a draft office in Alexandria, Minnesota in July of 1970.

It's going to be a wild ride.

Well, for a blog post about talking heads at a meeting, I mean.

Here we go...

Digging Into The Story Of Anthony John Ellis, Who Committed "Box Cutter Brutality" At A Neighborhood Bar, Allegedly...

Creative stock photo, (anti-pigeon measures under an old bridge in Washington, DC) blog post by John Hoff

The story of how Anthony John Ellis allegedly used a box cutter on the face of a guy who jumped to the aid of a female being beaten at a neighborhood bar...

That story wasn't big enough to make the pages of the Star Tribune. Go figure.

Luckily, the Pioneer Press picked up some of the slack, click here. And, of course, it's often the role of this blog to pick up the trail of bread crumbs left by the mainstream media and dig deeper into the story...

Apparently Afraid To Visit North Minneapolis Himself, Evil Anti-Johnny Sends "Proxy Fraidy Cat" To This Blogger's House, Chapter Three Of The Evil Anti-Johnny Book Of Revelations...

Contributed photo, blog post by John Hoff

If you look closely at the photo above (clicking to make it bigger might help) you will see a guy dressed in dark clothing running like a little bitch toward a black car parked at the end of the alley. More on this later.

In the early 1900s, when William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer waged war against each other in newsprint and many publications bore the names of political parties, conflict sometimes spilled out of written words and into actual action. So, as a scholar of journalism, a bizarre incident that happened day before yesterday (Monday) is fascinating and seems symbolic of the heated "Nomi Blog Wars" that have been waged the last few years.

(The term "Nomi Blog Wars" was first used by Irving Inquisition, click here)

(North By Northside also wrote a two part history of the turbulent North Minneapolis blog scene, click here for Part One and here for Part Two) A common theme of both accounts is The Adventures of Johnny Northside is and always has been at the red hot epicenter of the Nomi Blog Wars)

So, anyway, on Monday while I was away from home and having a late lunch with my attorney after giving a talk to some law students, the Evil Anti-Johnny blogger sent somebody to my house to snap a picture, and then the dude took off running down the alley like, well, there's just no other way to put it.

Like a little bitch....

Car Versus Building Took Out Ceci's African Hair Braiding On September 17, Building Is Still Down For The Count...

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

According to information available on social media, on or about September 17 at about 6 pm, a car ran another car off the street and into the building at 1223 Lowry Ave. NE (at the intersection of Fremont and Lowry) scoring a direct hit on the business called Ceci's African Hair Braiding. Word is the accident produced injuries. A major street closure resulted until the building could be....

A Wing Place On West Broadway? Who Would Have DREAMED IT? (Sarcasm Font) But, Seriously, The Food Is Pretty Good...

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

I have to admit I was predisposed not to like Wings N' Things at 324 West Broadway, the former location of Fetish Shoes; a mysterious little business that sprung up like mushrooms in dog doody after a rain shower, then faded away without a whimper leaving little to mark its passing but a single blog post written in, good lord, PARODY FONT.

It has often been said the only food available on West Broadway tends toward "wings and things." So a business actually NAMED "Wings N' Things" seemed to be a kind of deliberate slap in the face directed toward neighborhood revitalization efforts.

But I went there recently and the food was pretty good, at least when measured against...

Teaching The Next Crop Of Lawyers About The Blogosphere Trial Of The Century...

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

So, after winning the Blogosphere Trial of the Century and getting media coverage all over the country, what's the next logical step?

Hit the rubber chicken circuit, of course. Give talks to law students, media scholars, and those interesting hybrids who are seeking a graduate degree in both. The first talk will be free and on me, of course; no honoraria, air fare or hotel rooms but after that first talk goes well one starts scrutinizing other venues.

Hawaii State University.

Columbia School of Journalism.

The world is my tortiously truthful oyster.

So yesterday...

Criminal Complaints Against Ike NMN Wilson, Accused In "Janky Gun" Homicide...

Creative stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

I recently obtained a copy of two criminal complaints against Ike NMN Wilson, who is accused of accidentally shooting Jason Youngmark at a backyard barbeque. Click here for your very own copy of the complaint regarding the shooting. More in a bit about the criminal complaint concerning the alleged robbery incident.

Were They Serving Weenies? 

In regard to the "backyard barbeque shooting," Wilson is a sex offender and shouldn't have been allowed to TOUCH a weapon but, well, he was touching it...

Prosecutor Continues To "Play Cards Close To The Chest" With Rayjon Gomez Murder Case...

Facebook photo used under First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism, blog post by John Hoff

As this blogger reported with the indictment of Donquarius Copeland and with the indictment of Derrick Deangelo Catchings, the Hennepin County prosecutor is "playing his cards close to his chest" with indictments instead of criminal complaints. Issuing forth from closed grand jury proceedings, the indictments reveal little but bare allegations and the fact witnesses exist designated by letter. This blogger suspects evidence may be thin and witnesses are scared...well, rhymes with witless.

Scared witless.

(Today I was at the U of M law school giving a talk on the Johnny Northside case and the experience has inspired me to clean up my post-Afghan deployment potty mouth)

Here is the indictment that names Kemen (rhymes with "semen?") Lavatos Taylor, but if you click here to read it you won't learn much. The indictment is nearly a carbon copy of the indictment of Donquarius Copeland. Just switch the names.

No criticism is intended of the prosecutor by this observation. If this is how the game must be played, well, this is why prosectuors earn the big bucks. I just wish the unsolved murder of Annshalike Hamilton could get this kind of resolution. 

Numerous Civil Cases Were Prelude To Alleged "I'll Show You Crazy" Knife Wielding Freak Out By Shirlynn LaChapelle...

Facebook photo, used under First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism, blog post by John Hoff; see note regarding this photo at end of blog post

A couple days ago, this blog brought readers exclusive info about the purported "knife-wielding freak out" of prominent citizen Shirlynn LaChapelle, who has been involved in such noteworthy Neighborhood projects as the (defunct) Northside Marketing Task Force, tornado recovery fundraising, and sitting on the advisory board of the Neighborhood Hub to name just a few. In the background of the story of the bizarre (alleged) incident is a strange "house of mirrors" of civil cases. Where on earth does this mirror lined rabbit hole lead? And how far do I dare to follow it?

One odd aspect of the "freak out" story is....

"A Pretend Real Estate Pro Who Was Caught Drinking His Own (Metaphorical) Bong Water," Chapter Two Of The Evil Anti-Johnny Book Of Revelations...

Contributed photo, blog post by John Hoff


So, to continue with my long-overdue discussion about Jim Watkins, the evil anti-Johnny blogger, there's more to say about his "Foreclosure Can Happen To Anybody" story which ends with the memorable line, "GO LIVE WITH YOUR GRANDMOTHER." 

After reading the draft of the article Jim forwarded to me (he didn't ask for any kind of confidentiality and indeed his line about how I was a guy who could "stir things up" made me think he was kind of hoping I would publish it) I thought to myself, "Something went really wrong here, but I need help understanding this situation Jim describes where he might have to go live with his grandmother." 

So I forwarded Jim's "woe is me" story to an expert on real estate for his/her reaction... 

JNS Blog Poses Questions To Higgins And Yang About Level Three Sex Offender Concentration In North Minneapolis...

Creative stock photo, somewhere in South Carolina, I think, blog post by John Hoff

Ask this blogger what is the most pressing issue facing North Minneapolis and I will tell you it's the concentration of Level Three Sex Offenders in my neighborhood. The reason this issue ranks so high is because it has the potential to impact the most vulnerable and valuable citizens in my neighborhood; small children whose whole productive life is ahead of them.

Also, unlike some really big issues like crime, or the need to stabilize neighborhoods with more homeowners and not so many slumlords, or any of half a dozen issues, the L3SO concentration issue is relatively easy to tweak. With a few memos, high-ranking public officials could say stuff like, "When a citizen sends an email to a supervisor at the Department of Corrections, asking what the curfew is for Peter 'Spanky Pete' Rickmyer, that citizen deserves a prompt and specific answer, damn it."

Oh, wait. Draft that letter again. Drop "damn it."

That's why these folks get the big public official bucks instead of the small blogger bucks.

Or, perhaps, a few memos could be written saying stuff like...

JNS BLOG SUPER EXCLUSIVE: Criminal Background Of Kemen Lavatos Taylor II, Third Guy Indicted In Rayjon Gomez Murder, Who Sometimes Shows Up Right Across The Street From Where This Blogger Lives...

Photo of murder victim Rayjon Gomez, from Facebook, used under First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism, blog post by John Hoff

A teeny weeny article in the Star Tribune announces there has been an indictment of a third suspect in the murder of Rayjon Gomez, age 13.

Kemen Lavatos Taylor II, whose most recent criminal conviction in 2009 showed him to be a resident of Robbinsdale, was named in an indictment in the killing of Gomez. Here is info not available anywhere else about Taylor's criminal background...

Digging Into Story Of "Shots Leave Four Wounded" At 1527 Queen Ave. N.

Creative stock photo, FOB Gardez, Afghanistan, blog post by John Hoff

A shooting that left four wounded in North Minneapolis was eclipsed, some days later, by the city's worst shooting...an event that was only MISTAKENLY ATTRIBUTED to North Minneapolis.

Only by dumb luck were there no deaths when shots were fired into a residence at 1527 Queen Avenue North. Interestingly, the text of the Strib article says the house was on the "1500 block of Queen Avenue North" but then captions in photos with the story say "1527 Queen Avenue North. This isn't the first time I've seen that contradiction in a STrib story, either.

What's up with that, STrib?

In any case, it was hardly the first time trouble came to the house at 1527 Queen Ave. N...

"I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY," Defendant Shirlynn LaChapelle Allegedly Said, Before Reportedly Waving Knife At Her Daughter In Law....

Facebook photo used under First Amendment fair comment and criticism, blog post by John Hoff. See commentary below about the use of this photo. The two other women pictured in this photo are not involved in the alleged incident. 

As reported earlier today, Shirlynn LaChapelle, who lives in Maple Grove but plays a prominent role in North Minneapolis issues including past involvement in The Neighborhood Hub and the defunct Northside Marketing Task Force, was recently arrested over an alleged assault.

I now have a copy of the charging document containing further details of the alleged incident, click here for a copy.

Allegedly, Maple Grove police were called to...

"Prominent Person" Shirlynn LaChapelle Was Arrested And In Jail For Alleged Assault, Other Details Are Spotty...

Creative stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

This is what I know, and it's spotty. But sometimes when a prominent person is involved, or MAY be involved, a journalist goes with what he's got and breaks the story.

On September 26, as this blog does approximately once a month, I published the Hennepin County jail roster to capture that data like pretty flowers pressed between the pages of thick and heavy books, to preserve the data for posterity.

This morning, an anonymous commenter pointed out that Shirlynn LaChapelle was on the roster and asserted the arrest was for assault. (There should be an "alleged") in there.

I checked to verify the name was on the roster before publishing the anonymous comment...

8/29/2012.21:10 2012026403 LACHAPELLE, SHIRLYNN.NMN 9/18/1951 9654 HARBOR LANE N, MAPLE GROVE, MN 55369 9/20/2012.23:53 2012026357

 Yup, there it was. After I published the comment, in my own comment I pointed out that I didn't know WHAT the arrest was for, and asked for more information.

This might have been the end of it. After all, what do I care if...

Jerry Moore Owes $3,799.69 After Blogosphere Trial Of The Century, Yes, I Will Be Happy To Take A Check...

Photo taken with my camera by unknown guest at party where I was served with Jerry Moore's lawsuit, blog post by John Hoff

I received word from my attorney today that Jerry Moore, who unsuccessfully sued this blogger in Moore v. Hoff for supposedly defaming him, now owes this blogger almost four grand in costs. Here is a copy of the judgment, which was just emailed to me today, click here.

Trying to collect this money will prove INTERESTING to say the least. But it will certainly give me something to blog about.

It should be added....