Minneapolis — Dozens of arrests were made Thursday evening in Dinkytown after chaotic streets were lit by fireworks.
Video from the scene showed young people setting off fireworks at other people, the road and cars. No one was seriously injured, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at a press conference Friday afternoon.
“While the majority are not actually involved in setting off fireworks, they are part of the problem because they respond to social media and provide the audience for this behavior to continue,” O’Hara said.
“It’s absurd that residents and visitors to our town have to deal with this kind of horrible behavior,” O’Hara said, “which is why our police response has been different this year.”
More than 200 additional Minneapolis Police Department officers were on duty, along with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department, Minneapolis Park Police, University of Minnesota Police and State Police, who were also active throughout the city.
Minneapolis police said they made 30 arrests and issued five tickets overnight.
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“That number will likely increase,” O’Hara said. “Many different agencies were involved in this operation and reports are still coming in.”
Of those arrested and charged, 27 were adults and eight were minors, ranging in age from their mid-teens to early 20s.
O’Hara said that, like last year, many of those involved were from outside Minneapolis.
“Twenty-eight of them are from outside Minneapolis,” O’Hara said, “and five of them are not from Minnesota. They’re from Kansas, Massachusetts and two are from Maine.”
“I was on the sixth floor and it was a little concerning to see the fireworks going up that high,” said Ben Lefebvre, who watched the mayhem from his apartment window. “It was a little too close for me. And the mortars shook the building. They’re big, like grenades.”
Charges are under consideration and will likely be riot charges. O’Hara said the specific individuals who threw the mortars will also be charged with assault.
Nighttime park and public space closures will continue this weekend.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said ahead of the Fourth of July celebrations. There will be an increased police presenceand said officers would act if anyone threatened the safety or property of others.
