Kare11
Maple Grove PD, attorneys clash over charges
Newly released video shows a Maple Grove police officer being dragged nearly 40 yards by a suspect following a traffic stop last month.
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Newly released video shows a Maple Grove police officer being dragged nearly 40 yards by a suspect following a traffic stop last month.
According to the criminal complaint, the incident happened on Nov. 13 around midnight.
Maple Grove police officers pulled over a vehicle for tinted windows and a failure to signal. Officers noticed an empty container of alcohol and they asked the driver to step out of the vehicle.
After a few minutes of conversation outside the vehicle, the complaint says the driver ran, jumped into the driver’s seat and drove away, causing one officer to fall to the ground, and dragging another officer for 40 yards.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has filed felony charges against the suspect for obstruction and fleeing an officer, but police argue it’s not enough.
The Maple Grove Police Department and the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) both released statements Wednesday criticizing the charging decisions in the case.
“We feel this falls short of what should be charged,” MPPOA general counsel Imran Ali said
The MMPOA argues a felony charge of assault with a dangerous weapon is a more appropriate charge in this case, arguing the suspect’s vehicle is the weapon and the suspect used it to harm an officer.
“When situations like this happen and they are injured on duty, that these cases be treated like other cases, that these cases be prosecuted aggressively to ensure that this type of conduct doesn’t happen,” Ali said.
The Maple Grove PD agreed, in a statement Chief Eric Werner said “I am troubled and alarmed felony assault charges were declined by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.”
Ali says an assault charge comes with a mandatory minimum prison sentence, whereas obstruction and fleeing do not.
“When we have a case like this not prosecuted aggressively all it does is send a message to people in the community not only do you not pull over, but even if you do pull over, and if things aren’t going your way, flee, and if you feel, the consequences are going to be minimal,” Ali said.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office disagrees.
A spokesperson says several senior-level attorneys reviewed this case and based on the facts they can’t prove the suspect was intentionally trying to injure the officer with his vehicle.
“Any prosecutor or defense attorney understands we need evidence to support charges,” a statement reads.
“Unfortunately, we are unable to rely on false characterizations of the facts by individuals from interest groups who don’t have access to all the evidence in this case.”
Here is the full statement from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office:
“We are grateful the officer in this case escaped the incident with minor injuries. We fully recognize and appreciate the potential danger of the defendant’s actions and that is why we charged him with two felonies for his conduct.
“As any prosecutor or defense attorney understands, we need evidence to support charges and prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt. Unfortunately we are unable to rely on false characterizations of the facts by individuals from interest groups who don’t have access to all the evidence in the case. The evidence here is the defendant fled from officers in a motor vehicle and caused injuries while interfering with the officer’s duties. And we charged him with the most serious charges we were ethically able to charge based on the evidence.”
Here is the full statement from the Maple Grove Police Department:
Maple Grove Police Officer Brandon Gross conducted a traffic stop on November 13, 2023, in the interest of public safety.
The vehicle driver, Daniel Rudolph, fled and resisted Officer Gross. Mr. Rudolph placed Officer Gross and his partner in a deadly situation by dragging Officer Gross with his vehicle for over 40 yards.
Officer Gross was unable to return to work for over two weeks due to the injuries sustained from Mr. Rudolph’s dangerous actions. Mr. Rudolph continued to endanger the public as he fled the scene by driving off the roadway at a high rate of speed to gain access to the interstate highway and escape.
Investigators from the Maple Grove Police Department, Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crime Task Force, and the Plymouth Police Department conducted a search for several days to locate and arrest Mr. Rudolph.
Fortunately, Mr. Rudolph, with a history of felony level violent crimes, was taken into custody without incident. Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner states, “I am troubled and alarmed felony assault charges against Mr. Rudolph were declined by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.”
Today, offenders are emboldened and frequently resist or flee police officers – exposing the public and public safety officials to their dangerous behavior. Chief Werner added, “our dedicated, professional, and compassionate officers risk their lives each day to keep our community safe. I am relieved and grateful that Officer Gross was not gravely injured or killed during this incident.”
Here is the full statement from the MMPOA:
During a traffic stop, a Maple Grove police officer was purposefully dragged 40 yards in a car driven by a repeat felon with a lengthy criminal history, and yet the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office declined to charge the suspect with assault.
On November 13, 2023, Maple Grove Police Officer Brandon Gross and his police officer partner executed a traffic stop that ended with the suspect, Daniel Rudolph of St. Louis Park, pinning the officer’s arm between the suspect’s body and the driver’s seat, causing Officer Gross to be dragged for approximately 40 yards. The suspect said, “I got you! I got you!” and then a few second later he accelerated the vehicle and tried shutting the door on the officer while he was dragging him. During the dragging, the suspect extinguished his headlights, along with other factors that indicate he knew Officer Gross was being dragged. Rudolph has formerly been convicted of armed robbery and other felony-level crimes.
Minnesota Police and Peace Officer General Counsel Imran Ali (and former Washington County Prosecutor) said, “A repeat felon used his vehicle as a weapon and dragged a police officer 40 yards. The Hennepin County Attorney Office (HCAO) declined to charge this as an assault, even though the evidence and probable cause exists.”
“This charging decision represents an alarming trend from the HCAO where violent offenders are not charged, or under charged, with crimes. Minnesota law has long recognized vehicles being treated as weapons in these types of situations. It is alarming how police officers are treated differently than citizens in the eyes of the HCAO.”
Officer Gross sustained an injury to his shoulder that kept him out of work for over two weeks. He is medically cleared to return to work but has lingering pain and swollen/inflamed ligaments in his shoulder from being dragged.
The Hennepin County Attorney assigned to the case declined 2nd Degree Assault charges and instead charged the suspect with Fleeing and felony Obstruction. Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner asked for a review and the Senior Attorney declined as well.
Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Executive Director Brian Peters said, “Public safety officials put their lives on the line to protect their fellow citizens and enforce laws. Those that would seek to harm them should face penalties, but the HCAO is again prioritizing criminals over law enforcement.”
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
John Sawchak faces four felony charges after officials said he shot his neighbor on Grand Avenue South while trimming a tree on their shared property line.
MINNEAPOLIS — A man is recovering in the hospital after being shot outside his home in a dispute with a neighbor on Grand Avenue South in Minneapolis on Oct. 23.
According to a criminal complaint, Minneapolis police responded to a hospital for a report of a gunshot victim on Wednesday night. The injured man had been transported from his home on Grand Avenue South for an unknown medical condition that caused him to collapse. The man was found in the fetal position by his wife when she got home from work that evening.
Officials later identified the victim as Davis Maturi.
At the hospital, providers found a small puncture wound in the back of Maturi’s neck that led to the discovery of a bullet lodged near his spine. When he arrived at the hospital, he couldn’t recall what led up to him being shot, according to the criminal complaint.
Maturi’s wife told officials that he had been outside earlier in the day pruning a tree near their property line with a chainsaw. She said their neighbor, John Herbert Sawchak, 54, had “almost certainly” shot her husband.
In the previous week, Maturi’s wife said Sawchak told her husband “Touch my tree again and I’ll kill you.”
The criminal complaint goes on to detail numerous complaints of harassment the Maturi’s experienced since purchasing their house in September 2023.
Oct. 11, 2023: Maturi approached Sawchak to discuss the tree on their property line. Sawchak became irate, according to the criminal complaint, yelling at Maturi and using “racially charged language.” Sawchak told Maturi if he “touched” the tree, Sawchak would “take care of” him.
March 1, 2024: Sawchak approached Maturi while he was working outside his house on a ladder. While verbally harassing him, officials said Sawchak told Maturi that he would put him in the hospital.
April 5, 2024: Sawchak threw household items at Maturi from his 2nd-floor window.
May 28, 2024: Sawchak verbally threatened Maturi, calling him “a Black bastard,” and telling him “I’m going to kill you if you call the police again. All you people do is lie and commit crimes.”
Aug. 7, 2024: Sawchak verbally threatened Maturi from his 2nd story window. Maturi saw Sawchak holding up a large knife in the window while threatening to kill Maturi and his wife.
Oct. 8, 2024: Sawchak verbally threatened and screamed racial slurs at Maturi from his 2nd-floor window. Sawchak also, once again, brandished a knife from his window while threatening to kill Maturi.
Oct. 14, 2024: Maturi saw Sawchak outside Maturi’s home with a firearm. Sawchak pointed the firearm at Maturi through the window.
On the evening of Oct. 23, Maturi’s wife went home to pack some things and leave for the night, officials said. Sawchak verbally harassed her and shone a stone light on her as she left her home, the criminal complaint read. The next day, Maturi and his wife were able to access home security footage from their home cameras. The video shows Maturi working outside near the tree at the property line with his back to Sawchak’s home. A faint “crack” or “pop” can be heard, then Maturi collapsed to the ground.
Maturi remains hospitalized with a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion. He talked to KARE 11 from his hospital bed and said he feels the police failed to protect his family by not arresting Sawchak during one of the various other incidents.
“If you’re saying you’re scared, what does that do to me?” Maturi said. “You have this body armor, you have professional training… when I call for assistance, when I called for having a knife pointed at me, I had to wait hours and hours and hours.”
As of Sunday morning, Sawchak is not in police custody. According to the criminal complaint, Sawchak has at least three active warrants associated with prior threats or acts of violence against Matsuri and other neighbors. Sawchak has “actively evaded” police during their prior attempts to contact or arrest him.
A letter from ranking members of the Minneapolis City Council to Mayor Jacob Frey showed anger and blame directed at the Minneapolis police department for allegedly failing to act on Maturi’s numerous complaints against Sawchak before the shooting, and failing to arrest him immediately after the shooting.
“MPD still has not arrested the suspect despite charges from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for Attempted Murder, 1st Degree Assault, Stalking, and Harassment and a request from the HCAO for a warrant with $1 million bail. MPD told the HCAO they do not intend to execute the warrant ‘for reasons of officer safety,’” said the letter from the Minneapolis City Council.
Watch Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara’s response below:
Police are investigating after three men were shot early on Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating after three men were shot in the Ventura Village neighborhood early Saturday morning.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the area around East 21st Street and South 15th Avenue around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Officers found three men had been shot. One of the men died and the two others were taken to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the shooting happened at a small homeless encampment.
Police have not announced any arrests as of Saturday morning.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.
This Halloween the chocolate shop is getting very festive.
MARINE ON SAINT CROIX, Minn. — A small sweet shop in a Minnesota river town has won some BIG awards for its chocolates.
St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix has won national and international awards including Best of Show in this year’s America’s Division of the International Chocolate Awards.
Their chocolates are available at the St. Croix Chocolate Company kitchen or online.
This Halloween they are selling a Halloween Countdown Calendar that features 14 prize-winning recipes made into ghosts, bats, skulls and other spooky configurations. They also have a Boo Bag-handled tote that comes with their “best of” Halloween assortment.
Owner and Chocolatier, Robyn Dochterman, joined KARE 11 Saturday to share what St. Croix Chocolate Company has to offer.
Pennsylvania top election official says that 2020 ligation upheld that “elections were accurate”
Transcript: Former Rep. Liz Cheney on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Oct. 27, 2024
Former Rep. Liz Cheney urges to “vote your conscience,” even if it’s a “secret vote”
Pennsylvania top election official says that 2020 ligation upheld that “elections were accurate”
Transcript: Former Rep. Liz Cheney on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Oct. 27, 2024