Minnesota State Patrol Releases Results of Weekend Street Racing Crackdown

(KNSI) — The Minnesota State Patrol says they made 250 traffic stops in Minneapolis on Saturday as part of a crackdown on street racing.

On Friday and Saturday, 20 state troopers were on the ground. They had the state patrol’s helicopter and airplane assisting the Minneapolis Police Department following a wild and violent Fourth of July weekend. Mayor Jacob Frey says there were 1,300 calls for service in seven hours on July 4th, with just 80 Minneapolis police officers to handle them.

It’s unclear how many tickets were issued in total, but the state patrol says they cited 52 drivers for driving without a license and made 20 arrests, including 11 for driving while impaired.

Citations were given to a group of motorcyclists for racing on the freeway. Troopers also ticketed four cars racing on Hennepin Avenue and said that multiple pursuits ended with apprehensions due to the increased air support and local law enforcement partners.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol Twitter account, the aviation unit found a driver who fled on foot after a traffic pursuit. They say that driver also threw a firearm, which was recovered by police. The suspect also was caught and arrested.

The Department of Public Safety and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was granted a combined $5 million in May to support anti-crime initiatives. Two million dollars was also given to the DPS Survivor Support grant program to assist state agencies in supporting Minneapolis.

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