From MPD:

Dangerous gunfire leads to a police pursuit that results in three juvenile arrests.

May 16, 2023 (Minneapolis) On May 15, at approximately 2:10 p.m., officers from the Minneapolis Police Department responded to ShotSpotter activation and 911 calls of approximately one dozen shots fired near the 2100

Block of Girard Ave N. Soon after, on the same block, individuals at the Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center reported building damage from gunfire. Officers confirmed the damage and collected evidence. Based on video footage and information from individuals near the area of the shots-fired call, officers located one of two vehicles that were involved in the shots-fired incident. The juveniles operating a stolen Kia fled from officers near Lowry Ave N and Logan Ave N. Officers pursued the vehicle. When the pursuit traveled near an occupied school bus dropping off children, officers discontinued the pursuit out of concern for the safety of the school children.

Officers began to intermittently track the vehicle through cameras until officers in a squad made contact with the stolen Kia again near Lyndale and 25th Ave N. The pursuit was resumed. With the help of an MN State Trooper Helicopter, officers were able to follow the stolen Kia from a distance. At approximately 2:30 p.m. near 28th St E and Portland Ave S, the four occupants of the stolen Kia fled on foot.

Chief O’Hara was near the location where the juveniles fled on foot. He responded to the scene and joined the pursuit, running after one of the juvenile suspects, and placed him under arrest. In total, 3 of the 4 juvenile males were arrested and booked into the Juvenile Detention Center for weapons-related charges. Two firearms were recovered from the stolen Kia.

“The reckless and violent behavior being undertaken by juveniles in stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles is an emergency,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “These juveniles are a danger to themselves and to anyone who happens to be around them. For the past year, they have been allowed to continue to wreak havoc in our neighborhoods with no recourse and no consequences. We cannot continue to tolerate this behavior.”

Today’s pursuit and ultimate arrests were facilitated by a recent update to the pursuit policy that Chief O’Hara enacted on May 2nd allowing for the pursuit of vehicles in the instance of felony firearm discharges. This revision in the pursuit policy and the Chief’s actions today demonstrate his support of MPD officers and his understanding that we can no longer allow this behavior to go unanswered. The Chief will continue to take action and ensure that officers are equipped with every tool necessary to carry out their duties and protect our community.

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From St. Louis Park police:

Update: Suspects charged following arrests for carjacking, vehicle thefts and robberies in St. Louis Park

Post Date:January 19, 2022 6:38 p.m.

Update: On Jan. 21, 2022, the two suspects referenced below were charged in Hennepin County District Court. Both were charged with multiple felony crimes and bail was set at $250,000 each. Read the complaints for Kashwan Jason Wertman and for Nautica Alaja Argue.

On Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at around 1:15 p.m., St. Louis Park police officers responded to the 2700 block of Louisiana Court South in St. Louis Park on report of a robbery. Suspects threatened to shoot an adult female driver, then took her car keys. The suspects left in both the victim’s vehicle and a second vehicle which was determined to be one stolen in St. Louis Park earlier in the week.

The St. Louis Park Police Department, in collaboration with more than 12 local, county and state agencies, determined that the suspects in this case were KASHWAN JASON WERTMAN (9-8-03) and NAUTICA ALAJA ARGUE (10-28-02), both St. Paul residents. Further investigation led investigators to determine that Wertman and Argue were suspects in many other incidents, including eight in St. Louis Park. Incidents include:

One 1st Degree Aggravated Robbery – St. Louis Park
Six 2nd Degree Aggravated Robberies – St. Louis Park, White Bear Lake, Roseville, Richfield, Brooklyn Center and Woodbury
13 Simple Robberies – St. Louis Park (6), Columbia Heights (2), Plymouth, Roseville, Edina and Ramsey County
One Attempted Simple Robbery – Eagan
One Motor Vehicle Theft – St. Louis Park
One Flee Police in Motor Vehicle – Ramsey County

On Jan. 18, St. Louis Park Investigators issued a probable cause arrest notice to area law enforcement agencies and provided information that Wertman and Argue were believed to be driving a silver Audi TT, taken Jan. 16, in a robbery from an adult female victim in the 5500 block of Cedar Lake Road in St. Louis Park.

At approximately 6:18 p.m. Jan. 18, the stolen Audi was located and fled from law enforcement officers. St. Louis Park officers were not involved in the subsequent pursuit that proceeded through numerous cities. The vehicle eventually stopped and its occupants, Wertman and Argue, were arrested in St. Paul in the 1700 block of Maryland Avenue East. The suspects were found to be in possession of evidence connected to the other incidents above. Both suspects remain in custody in the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center in Minneapolis and have been questioned by St. Louis Park police investigators.

Wertman was charged in an April 11, 2021, aggravated robbery involving use of a firearm occurring in St. Louis Park. At the time of last night’s arrest, Wertman had multiple active arrest warrants, including one stemming from that incident. Five others included 2nd Degree Assault, Motor Vehicle Theft, Domestic Assault and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle.

The case file described above, and related cases covering crimes attributable to Wertman and Argue, are being submitted to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for charging. Other charges will be submitted to the Ramsey and Washington county attorney’s offices.

Other ongoing investigations in St. Louis Park and other jurisdictions with connections to Wertman and Argue will result in charging submissions in the future.

Special thanks to Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office investigators and analysts and to officers and deputies from the Minneapolis Police Department, St. Paul Police Department and Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in locating the suspects and stolen vehicles involved.

The St. Louis Park Police Department will continue to investigate additional related incidents in the coming days. Anyone with additional information on any related cases should call the St. Louis Park Police at 952.924.2600.

The law enforcement efforts that led to the arrests of Wertman and Argue are a successful first step in confronting those responsible for the violence that has impacted so many victims directly. It is also a critical step toward combating the increase in violent crime that has plagued so many communities of late. Law enforcement’s continuing partnerships with one another, and our vigilance in taking on this violent crime, is a responsibility taken seriously by our agencies and is a reflection of our commitment to those in our communities that we serve and have sworn to keep safe.

From Sheriff Fletcher:

Thank you to the many agencies that assisted the Ramsey County Carjacking & Auto Theft “CAT” Unit in arresting two parties wanted for 5 carjackings and three other robberies over the past 10 days in St. Louis Park. The one hour pursuit was a total team effort with help from the Minnesota State Patrol, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriffs Office, Roseville Police Department, St. Paul Police Department, Washington County Sheriffs Office, Dakota County Sheriffs Office and others. A special thank you to the staff monitoring the state highway cameras. You were our “most valuable player” last night. At the speed the suspects were traveling we would never have apprehended them without your outstanding work.

[Hennepin county da, and ag Ellison have allowed this to go on and they are weak at prosecuting thugs]

From Hennepin County Attorneys office:
Wertman, Argue charged in connection to numerous carjacking-related offenses

Two individuals involved in more than 20 carjacking-related offenses across Hennepin County, and neighboring cities, have been charged. This comes following a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement effort that apprehend the two suspects, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday.

Kashawn Wertman, 18, of St. Paul, and 19-year-old Nautica Argue, of St. Paul, are facing a combined 31 counts for their involvement in numerous cross-county carjacking-related offenses that occurred between Jan. 7 – Jan. 17. These charges range from aggravated robbery to theft from a person.

Presently, Wertman has been charged with 17 counts, while Argue faces 14 counts. While the investigation is on-going, it is anticipated that additional charges will be filed.

First appearances for Wertman and Argue have been scheduled for Jan. 21 at 2:30 p.m.

“The excellent police work by the numerous law enforcement agencies in the greater Twin Cities area has resulted in the apprehension of two dangerous people, who had terrorized countless community members,” Freeman stated.

“Our office will now do our part as the charging agency in the criminal justice system, and prosecute these defendants to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to the criminal complaint, between Jan. 7 – Jan. 17, Wertman and Argue were involved in nearly 25 carjacking-related offenses which occurred in St. Louis Park, Plymouth, Richfield, Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Edina, White Bear Lake, Roseville, Columbia Heights, Lakeville, Eagan, Little Canada, Burnsville, Woodbury, and Saint Paul.

A total of 10 vehicles were stolen violently from victims that were used to commit these offenses.

On Jan. 18, Ramsey County Sheriff’s deputies went to the 1700 block of Maryland Avenue in St. Paul in search of Wertman. Officers later encountered the stolen Audi TT being driven by Wertman with Argue in the passenger seat.

When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Wertman began to speed off. He eventually drove into the Cedar Riverside neighborhood and then back to the 1700 block of Maryland Avenue in St. Paul where additional police were waiting, the complaint states.

Both Wertman and Argue admitted to certain offenses when speaking with law enforcement following their arrests.

Upon Wertman’s arrest, Wertman told police that they should be “out arresting murderers, not people who steal cars.”

Bail has been set for Argue at $250K without conditions, $150K with conditions.

At the request of the defense, the bail argument for Wertman has been reserved.
Quick video on the thugs:

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•Evidence gathered in the investigations indicates the attacks were committed by the same individual (shown in the sketches above). The person we’re looking for is a white man, 30-50 years old, medium build, with abrupt changes in appearance.

•MPD Deputy Chief of Investigations Erick Fors announced ways to take safety precautions. “We want everyone to be aware of their surroundings. When you are outside, be looking around, not down at your phone. Try to walk in a well-lit area. If possible, ask a friend to walk with you. Keep your cell phone charged and accessible. Find out how your phone can make an emergency call while still being locked. Switch up your route while walking home or to your car. Be aware while taking out your garbage or recycling. Keep your doors and windows locked, and lock your car doors while inside your vehicle,” said Fors.

•MPD will be increasing patrols in the area and executing ongoing investigative initiatives.

•If you or anyone you know has information, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS and you may be eligible for a financial reward.

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