MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Police Department announced it has made an arrest after an altercation at St. Anne’s Place, which resulted in shelter workers relocating dozens of people who lived there.
The incident happened last Thursday, stemming from a misunderstanding over public street parking. The CEO of People Serving People Hoang Murphy told KARE 11 one guest at the shelter was hit over the head with a pistol, and a staff member was kicked in the leg while they held an infant.
Surveillance video showed people damaging two doors with a baseball bat.
On Friday, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced Eureka Dominique Riser, 33, was charged with second-degree riot and criminal damage to property.
"This violent attack on some of our most vulnerable community members, unhoused women and children, in a place where they had gone to seek shelter and safety cannot be tolerated,” said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty in a press release.
Police said a second person was arrested Friday night.
In a message Friday, Murphy said the incident "was shocking and painful." He also criticized the police response.
"We are outraged by the disrespectful and wholly inadequate response by the Minneapolis Police Department before, during, and in the days following the incident. They demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety and security of the families staying at St. Anne’s Place and the staff there to support them. MPD finally made an arrest last night, a week after the assault on St, Anne’s Place, only after significant phone calls to city council members, the mayor and other advocacy efforts: our families deserve to have a safe place to land, while they are working to heal and rebuild their lives."
He added that he wants to see others involved charged, as well as a "community restorative justice process to engage neighborhood residents in a conversation about what it means to be good neighbors."
This article has been updated to reflect criminal charges have been filed, and includes an update sent Friday by Hoang Murphy.