Powderhorn crime watch

by DENNIS GEISINGER
published July 7 2008

The sound of gunfire in South Minneapolis is not an uncommon event for most residents, but violent crime in Powderhorn area neighborhoods during the month of June resulted in the deaths of several people and left locals looking for solutions to the threat of violence in our neighborhoods.

Two 17-year-olds, Brian Lee Flowers and Stafon Edward Thompson, were charged with first-degree murder and certified to adult court for the June 12 slaying of 36-year-old Katricia Daniels and her 10-year-old son, Robert Shephard. The killings took place in Daniels’ home near East 38th Street and 1st Avenue. According to police reports, Daniels suffered from some 100 stab wounds and her son was bludgeoned with a TV set in what was apparently a robbery attempt perpetrated by the two juveniles who were acquaintances of Daniels’ older son. Daniels 18-month-old daughter was reportedly found uninjured.

The same week, a “shots-fired” call from East 35th Street and Chicago Avenue South sent police to a shooting scene where a victim needed to be brought by ambulance to Hennepin County Medical Center.

On June 11, neighbors called 9-1-1 to report shots fired near East 33rd Street and Chicago Avenue; when police arrived they found 29-year-old Ricky Albert Rowan, gravely wounded in an alley on the 3500 block between Chicago and Elliot Avenues. Rowan later died of his wounds at HCMC. According to Minneapolis Police Information Officer Sgt. William Palmer, as of July 2, no arrests have been made in the case.

On June 9, officers responding to a homicide call at 2818 E. 38th St., discovered the body of 46-year-old Michael Reich in an apartment bathtub. The call had been made by 38-year-old Harold Meeks, who told police that he had strangled his boyfriend, Reich, during an argument and subsequent struggle three days earlier. Meeks was charged with second-degree murder.

One week later, a SpotSpotter activation brought investigators to the 3500 block of 4th Avenue South, where a victim was found in the alley with a gunshot wound to his back. Police were given reports by several witnesses, including the victim, of a gun battle between two pairs of males. The victim’s own gun was recovered in a nearby dumpster. The shooting may have been related to an earlier shooting in the 4th Precinct, according to the police report.

The same area of 4th Avenue South saw a 14-year-old shot during an assault that occurred only days earlier. Also, a man was arrested near East 18th Street and 24th Avenue South for breaking out car windows with a baseball bat; three juveniles were reported stealing a wallet during an armed robbery at 31st and Minnehaha, and a suspect driving erratically on the 3100 block of 3rd Avenue South was arrested for a DWI and found to be in possession of an illegal 9mm handgun.

During the last week of June, a crime alert was issued by police about several thefts—possible pick pocketing incidents—on Chicago Avenue between Lake and East 27th Street.  Victims were reportedly approached during mid- to late afternoon hours by one or more suspects who presented a business card and then asked for directions. The victims, usually seniors from out of the area, later discover their wallets were missing.

One strategy

June 19 marked the 10-year anniversary of one neighborhood agency that focuses on the community and crime victims, as well as the offenders. Midtown Community Restorative Justice (MCRJ) gives offenders an opportunity to repair the damage caused by their actions and the chance to assume a valued role in the community. Members of the community meet with offenders to hold them directly accountable for their actions.

Since its inception, MCRJ has bought more than 600 offenders to some 1,500 meetings with community members. Offenders have provided 12,000 volunteer hours of service in the surrounding neighborhoods, including Powderhorn, Central, Corcoran and Phillips.