As of Monday afternoon, the “majority” of those arrested in the Twin Cities for rioting, violating curfew, looting or other similar charges had Minnesota addresses.
“That would be accurate,” Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington confirmed during a Monday press conference. During a previous briefing, he said he didn’t “have any credible evidence of any specific group being here in Minnesota.”
The Department of Public Safety said there were 276 arrests Sunday night through early Monday morning.
“This number includes 150 people who were arrested in the area of Washington Avenue and 35W. The updated total number of arrests since the MACC [multi-agency command center] was established on Friday is 481,” the department said on Twitter.
Update: There were 276 arrests Sun. and early Mon. This number includes 150 people who were arrested in the area of Washington Ave and 35W. The updated total number of arrests since the MACC was established on Fri. is 481. #MACCMN
— MnDPS_DPS (@MnDPS_DPS) June 1, 2020
State officials backed down from claims that most of the rioters were coming from out of state after reporters discovered that arrest records showed the opposite. From Friday night to Saturday morning, for instance, 38 of the 45 people arrested in Hennepin County for rioting, unlawful assembly, stolen property, burglary or robbery were from Minnesota.
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter falsely claimed Saturday morning that “every single person” arrested by the St. Paul Police Department Friday night was “from out of state,” but acknowledged during a press conference later Saturday evening that his comments were inaccurate.
At one point, Gov. Tim Walz estimated that 80 percent of the anarchists were outside groups, but then clarified that he “wanted to believe” they weren’t Minnesotans.
“As we find out where folks are from, that’s where they’re from. It doesn’t excuse the behavior. It doesn’t change anything. We’re not trying to set a narrative,” said Walz, saying he found “it hard to believe that our own people were burning our buildings.”
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
