BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. —
- OSN: About two dozen arrests made overnight
- Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin curfews expired at 6 a.m. Thursday
- Officials declared demonstration outside Brooklyn Center PD 'unlawful assembly,' declare multiple dispersal orders
- Brooklyn Center Mayor met with Daunte Wright family
- Former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter charged with second-degree manslaughter in Daunte Wright's death
- Potter posted bond Wednesday evening
EDITOR'S NOTE: Live video may contain obscenities
Thursday, April 15
12:00 a.m.
At another midnight press conference, law enforcement officials with Operation Safety Net provided details of the latest demonstration at the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Col. Matt Langer with Minnesota State Patrol said around 24 people were arrested for curfew violations, and said Wednesday night's "protest activity" was much more civil than Tuesday night's demonstration. "We want people to leave. We don't want to arrest people. Our goal is not to see how many people we can arrest as part of Operation Safety Net," Langer said.
"Tonight was better than last night," said Col. Langer, who added that no "chemical ammo" was used.
Officials with OSN also addressed reports that law enforcement on the ground in Brooklyn Center told members of the press and media to leave the area.
"We want media there covering these events," Langer said, and explained officers have refined a process to ID credentialed members of the media who get arrested while covering protest events.
According to Minneapolis police Deputy Chief Amelia Huffman, there were no reports of looting or burglaries in Minneapolis overnight.
Wednesday, April 14
10:40 p.m.
The scene outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department has calmed as law enforcement continues to enforce curfew and multiple dispersal orders for a demonstration following Daunte Wright's death.
Protesters gathered for the fourth straight night in response to Wright's death with officials saying some people in the crowd were shooting fireworks and throwing objects at law enforcement.
A curfew is in place for Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park and Champlin until 6 a.m. Thursday.
10 p.m.
A curfew is in place in Brooklyn Center as demonstrators remain outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department for the fourth straight night following Daunte Wright's death.
Officials declared the demonstration an "unlawful assembly" earlier in the night and issued multiple dispersal orders after reports of people in the crowd shooting fireworks and throwing objects at law enforcement.
Authorities are telling everyone to vacate the area or they will be arrested.
Former Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek weighed in on how law enforcement responds to protests when officers are met with tension while trying to disperse gatherings deemed "unlawful."
"The level of force that they're going to use is going to be reasonable and proportionate based on the response," Stanek said. "Once they dive that dispersal order, you're going to hear them give it three times – 10 minutes in between each one – but by the time they get to the third one, though, it's going to start happening. They'll move forward incrementally, slow, deliberate, methodical response."
Stanek added, "Their goal is not to arrest people, but rather to disperse them – encourage them, inspire them to go home – but not everyone will, and you'll end up with arrests tonight, again."
Curfews are also in place in Brooklyn Park and Champlin. All curfews will expire at 6 a.m. Thursday.
9:15 p.m.
Officials have declared a demonstration outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department an "unlawful assembly" and have issued multiple dispersal orders as demonstrators gather for the fourth straight night following Daunte Wright's death.
Law enforcement is telling people to vacate the area or they will be arrested.
A curfew is scheduled for the city beginning at 10 p.m. and will last until 6 a.m.
Brooklyn Park also has a curfew starting at 10 p.m., while a curfew for Champlin began at 9 p.m.
8:45 p.m.
Operation Safety Net (OSN) says there are reports of some people in a crowd gathered outside of the Brooklyn Center Police Department that are shooting fireworks and throwing objects at law enforcement during a fourth night of demonstrations following Daunte Wright's death.
People are also attempting to dismantle the fence surrounding the police station, according to a tweet from OSN.
Brooklyn Center has enacted a curfew beginning at 10 p.m. Wednesday that will last until 6 a.m. Thursday.
7:15 p.m.
Community members and activists gathered outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department for the fourth straight night following Daunte Wright's death. Former officer Kim Potter, the officer who shot and killed Wright, was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter on Wednesday. Potter posted bond Wednesday evening.
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott met with members of Wright's family at a separate gathering near the scene of Wright's death.
Brooklyn Center enacted another curfew beginning at 10 p.m. Wednesday and lasting until 6 a.m. Thursday.
4:25 p.m.
After three nights of unrest in the Minneapolis metro area following the killing of Daunte Wright by police, the City of St. Paul said it's not enacting another curfew Wednesday.
St. Paul is joining Minneapolis in announcing no citywide curfew, but nearby Brooklyn Center extended the city's from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.
St. Paul officials told residents to contact 911 for emergencies when someone's safety is at risk, and to call 651-291-111 to report suspicious activity that doesn't require an immediate response.
4 p.m.
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott extended the city's curfew to Wednesday night after former officer Kim Potter was arrested and charged in the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop.
Elliott said the curfew will go into effect at 10 p.m. and last until 6 a.m. Thursday.
"I share our community's anger, and sadness and shock, and my message for all who are demanding justice for him and his family is this: Your voices have been heard," Elliott said, urging residents to protest peacefully.
"Let us show the best of our community, and to the Wright family, I know there is nothing I can say or do to bring Daunte back, or ease your grief. But I promise you this: His death will not go in vain," Elliott said.
The mayor told reporters that the city needs to approach policing in "a more humane way," specifically calling out the use of tear gas as a measure to disperse protesters.
Elliott said the city's police department isn't using that tactic, adding that the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office took over security operations in Brooklyn Center on Tuesday night.
"The operation that took place last night was completely under the auspices of the sheriff's department," Elliott said, but declined to comment any further.
Elliott was also pressed about media being asked to leave demonstrations Tuesday night. The mayor said his department did not ask any members of the media to leave.
"Demanding the media to leave is absolutely unequivocally unacceptable," he said.
Reggie Edwards, Brooklyn Center's acting city manager, also announced a new community crisis team, made up of local business, faith, nonprofit and government leaders. He said the team members are volunteers, and are working to try to build relationships and improve communication within the community.
Watch the press conference in the player below:
2:15 p.m.
The Washington County Attorney's Office announced a second-degree manslaughter charge against former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter for fatally shooting 20-year-old Daunte Wright during a traffic stop.
The charge announced Wednesday follows Potter's arrest by Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents. Potter posted bond, and was released from the Hennepin County Jail Wednesday evening.
If found guilty, Potter would face a presumptive sentence of four years in prison (48 months) according to state sentencing guidelines. Minnesota's statutory maximum for second-degree manslaughter is 10 years behind bars, but experts KARE 11 spoke with say that would be extremely unlikely.
"Certain occupations carry an immense responsibility and none more so than a sworn police officer," said Imran Ali, Washington County's assistant criminal division chief and director of the Major Crime Unit. "With that responsibility comes a great deal of discretion and accountability. We will vigorously prosecute this case and intend to prove that Officer Potter abrogated her responsibility to protect the public when she used her firearm rather than her Taser."
2 p.m.
The City of Minneapolis will not be enacting a curfew Wednesday following three nights of unrest after a white officer shot and killed a 20-year-old Black man during a traffic stop in nearby Brooklyn Center.
The city announced that there won't be a curfew Wednesday night in a post on Twitter, asking residents to still report any suspicious activity by calling 612-673-5335.
The decision comes after Minnesota law enforcement officials reported 79 arrests following a demonstration over Daunte Wright's death Tuesday night, when Minneapolis and other metro-area cities enacted curfews. Law enforcement officials said the arrests were made over charges such as inciting riot and unlawful assembly.
1 p.m.
Ben Crump, the civil rights attorney representing Daunte Wright's family, and Rev. Al Sharpton held a press conference following the arrest of former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter in the 20-year-old Black man's death.
Crump and Sharpton, who's president of the National Action Network, spoke to reporters after the civil rights nonprofit's conference Wednesday. They were joined by the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Stephon Clark and Michael Brown.
They all offered messages of support to Wright's family, and commented on the announcement that Potter will be charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Sharpton said the charge is the lowest-level offense that Potter should face for fatally shooting Wright during a traffic stop Sunday.
"When you look at the fact that you're dealing with a 26-year veteran, if she didn't know in 26 years the difference in size and weight of a gun as opposed to a Taser, then how was she a veteran in policing?" he asked.
In a written statement released before the press conference, Crump also noted Potter's experience as an officer.
"A 26-year veteran of the force knows the difference between a Taser and a firearm," he wrote. "Kim Potter executed Daunte for what amounts to no more than a minor traffic infraction and a misdemeanor warrant."
Crump, who's also representing George Floyd's family, said that as he and Sharpton are readying to travel back to Minneapolis for an imminent verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, they're also tasked with planning Wright's funeral.
Sharpton announced that the National Action Network will pay for the funeral.
"Within 10 miles from where the trial regarding the killing of George Floyd is taking place, that a police officer would yet again kill another unarmed Black man," said Crump. "If ever there was a time in America when the police should be on their greatest behavior, their best behavior. If ever there was a time when they should use their best standard of care... it should be now, and especially in Minnesota."
11:30 a.m.
Kim Potter, the white officer who shot and killed a 20-year-old Black man during a traffic stop, has been arrested, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
The former Brooklyn Center officer, who resigned on Tuesday, is expected to face a second-degree manslaughter charge for the death of Daunte Wright, according to the BCA. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to the Associated Press.
The BCA said that the Washington County Attorney's Office, which is handling the case, will file charges against Potter later Wednesday.
The agency said Potter will held at Hennepin County Jail.
Brooklyn Center's former Police Chief Tim Gannon, who also resigned Tuesday, said earlier this week that he believes Potter shot Wright by accident, mistaking her gun for her Taser.
Wright's family and civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents them, said they don't believe it was an accident. Crump noted that Potter was a 26-year veteran on the police force, and even trained other officers.
He responded to the charging decision in a statement Wednesday, saying it isn't enough.
"While we appreciate that the district attorney is pursuing justice for Daunte, no conviction can give the Wright family their loved one back," Crump wrote. "This was no accident. This was an intentional, deliberate, and unlawful use of force."
An investigation into the fatal shooting is ongoing, the BCA said.
11 a.m.
Minnesota's Operation Safety Net says 79 people were arrested Tuesday night following a protest in Brooklyn Center over the shooting death of Daunte Wright by a police officer. Overnight, OSN initially said about 60 people were arrested.
Minnesota State Patrol made 73 arrests, the Minneapolis Police Department made five arrests, and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office made one arrest.
OSN says the charges varied, but included things like inciting a riot and unlawful assembly.
A curfew was in effect for Brooklyn Center from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Wednesday.
12 a.m.
Law enforcement officials with Operation Safety Net said during an early morning press conference that bricks and cans were among the objects thrown at police officers during the third night of protests at the Brooklyn Center Police Department, after an officer shot and killed Daunte Wright during a traffic stop.
"The behaviors we continue to see are unacceptable, and we are not going to tolerate them," Col. Matt Langer, with the State Patrol, said. "We encourage you to be peaceful and come and exercise your first amendment rights, it is not acceptable and will not be tolerated if you choose to come and do criminal activity and destroy property and throw objects and make it unsafe for people to come and exercise your first amendment rights."