Minneapolis police make ‘numerous’ arrests after fireworks chaos in Dinkytown

MINNEAPOLIS — Dozens of people were arrested in Dinkytown on Thursday night amid chaotic scenes in which people set off fireworks in the streets.

Video from the scene showed chaos as young people shot fireworks at each other, the street and cars. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at a news conference Friday afternoon that no one was seriously injured.

“It’s ridiculous that our residents and other visitors to our city have to contend with this egregious behavior,” O’Hara said. “That’s why our law enforcement response was different this year.”

Minneapolis police had over 200 additional officers on duty. Officers from Ramsey County, Minneapolis Park Police, University of Minnesota Police and State Patrol were also deployed throughout the city.

Minneapolis police said there were 30 arrests and five citations issued overnight.

“These numbers are likely to increase,” O’Hara said. “Several different agencies were involved in this operation, and reports are still coming in.”

Of those arrested and summoned, 27 were adults and eight were juveniles. The ages ranged from mid-teens to early twenties.

O’Hara said that similar to last year, some of those involved were not from the city of Minneapolis.

“Twenty-eight of those individuals are not from Minneapolis,” O’Hara said. “Five of them are not even from Minnesota. They came from Kansas, Massachusetts and two from Maine.”

“I was on the sixth floor, so it’s kind of disturbing that fireworks are going up that high,” said Ben Lefebvre, who watched the chaos from an apartment window. “One came a little too close to us from the window for comfort. And those mortar shells kind of shook the building – they’re big. They’re like grenades.”

One charge is currently being considered and will likely be sedition. O’Hara said certain individuals who threw grenade launchers will also face assault charges.

Ahead of Independence Day on July 4, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said a stronger police presenceand said if someone threatens the safety or property of others, officers would intervene.