Minneapolis police chief: 'We are not going to let a group of people hijack this city'
[KSTP-TV]
While addressing the media Saturday afternoon, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo spoke about the situation responding law enforcement are facing as violent protests break out over the death of George Floyd.
The chief also used the chance to say he believes hope will return to the city.
"We will meet this challenge together and again see the luster and shine and humanity that sets us apart as a city of Minneapolis," Arradondo said.
He said that Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey have provided robust state assets that will aid the Minneapolis Police Department as its resource capacity is overwhelmed.
To protect businesses, Arradondo said law enforcement officers have plans to be put in place in certain corridors of the city to protect neighborhoods.
Arradondo said most protesters are doing so peacefully and are complying with curfew orders. The chief, however, did send a message to those who remain at protests and escalate the situation.
"Those folks who are sticking around and would stand next to someone who would commit arson to a person's business they don't even know, you are complicit," he said. "That should never be tolerated."
Speaking of the groups that are causing damage throughout the city, Arradondo said, "We are not going to let a group of people hijack this city."
During the press conference, Minneapolis Police Department Public Information Officer John Elder provided statistics regarding arrests and calls for services.
According to Elder, 27 people were booked into the Hennepin County Jail. Two of those individuals were booked for probable cause burglary and 25 of them were booked for probable cause riot.
A total of 383 people called to report property damage over the past 24 hours. And between 10 a.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday, there were 23 fires reported.
Elder also said there were 131 calls for shots fired or ShotSpotter activations.