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Walz criticizes Moriarty’s handling of Londregan case
He is deciding whether to remove the case from the Hennepin County Attorney as requested by the MPPOA last week.
SAINT PAUL, Minn — Governor Tim Walz, when asked about the murder case involving Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Ryan Londregan, criticized Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty regarding transparency, after the revelation she charged Londregan with murdering Ricky Cobb despite her use-of-force expert’s initial opinion that the trooper acted reasonably.
“In a case like this, transparency is king,” Walz said. “I listen to people, whether on health issues or law — I’m not a lawyer myself — but as a layman on this, why would you not listen to a use-of-force expert? Why would that not be central to something you would do?”
Walz is now deciding whether to allow Moriarty to continue prosecuting the case — or to reassign it — after the Minnesota Police and Peace Officer’s Association formally asked him to review it.
“We want Trooper Ryan to have a fair shake,” said attorney Stephen Foertsch, the MPPOA’s legal administrator.
The MPPOA’s letter to the governor points out that after national use-of-force expert Jeff Noble’s analysis, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office didn’t provide him with more materials, filed charges without further consultation, and then directed Noble to cease working so that he would not create a final report.
“We think that anyone objectively looking at the case will see that he did just what Jeff Noble said he did, which is acted reasonably to save his partner’s life,” Foertsch said.
The governor has the legal authority to remove a case from a prosecutor, and he did so last year in the high-profile murder of Zaria McKeever in Brooklyn Park, after the victim’s family protested the plea deals being offered to the juvenile suspects. Walz then gave that case to Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office continues to prosecute it today.
Regarding the Londregan case, Walz didn’t say how close he is to a decision.
“No, there’s no timeline, we’ll get more from the judge on Thursday,” Walz said, pointing out that Londregan will be back in court on Thursday for a motions hearing.
In that hearing, the sides will argue over defense allegations that prosecutors are not turning over all the documentation they have about the use-of-force opinion.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office issued a statement:
Like in every case, we have been extremely thorough in this investigation and we will continue to be as we prepare this case for a potential trial. We would be happy to meet with the Governor or his team to discuss any concerns they have about the rules of criminal procedure — the same rules our office follows and fulfills in thousands of cases every year. Otherwise, we will litigate this case in court, which is where it belongs.
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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.
MINNEAPOLIS — Making pasta at home is relatively simple, as long as you have the right tools.
October is National Pasta Month and Red Rabbit‘s Corporate Chef, Adam Lerner, joined KARE 11 Saturday to show us how to make homemade noodles in the confines of your own kitchen.
