No Charges For Robbinsdale Cops In Khalil Azad Death: Moriarty

ROBBINSDALE, MN — Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Monday that there will be no charges filed against Robbinsdale police officers in the July 2022 death of Khalil Azad, who drowned in Crystal Lake.

"My thoughts are with Khalil Azad’s family and loved ones in this difficult time," Moriarty said in a news release. "Losing someone so young is devastating. Although this is not the result they hoped for, our victim support team remains available to help them through this extremely difficult time."

Moriarty said her office found no evidence of inappropriate behavior by law enforcement after a thorough review of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s independent investigation.

Prosecutors concluded that Azad died by "tragic accidental drowning in Crystal Lake."

"The BCA uncovered no evidence that any member of law enforcement had any physical contact with Khalil after the initial traffic stop," Moriarty added.

"The investigation also did not reveal evidence that any member of law enforcement did anything other than seek in earnest to locate Khalil, utilizing multiple officers from multiple agencies, multiple K9s, a State Patrol helicopter, and thermal imaging, and trying to acquire information from the two others who had been in the same vehicle."

After an autopsy and toxicology examination, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled Azad's death an accident and identified the cause as freshwater drowning.

Following pressure and protests from activists in March, the Robbinsdale Police Department released body camera footage from the night of the incident.

On July 3, 2022, just before 1:30 a.m., Robbinsdale officers tried to make a DWI traffic stop on the 4200 block of County Road 81, according to the police department

The vehicle did not pull over and a pursuit was initiated, officers said. The driver — later identified as Azad — lost control of the vehicle on the 3900 block of Lakeland Ave North, according to police.

Azad fled "and was never located despite a search of the area by the Robbinsdale Police Department with the assistance of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, neighboring agencies, and the Minnesota State Patrol Flight Division," according to Robbinsdale police.

"Based on a review of body-worn camera footage, Robbinsdale police officers did not have any contact with the person who fled the scene. Officers did speak with the two passengers who were in the vehicle and neither passenger identified the driver. Two days after the traffic stop, a body of a male was recovered in Crystal Lake by a citizen."

On July 5 just before 1 p.m., police responded after a body — later identified as Azad — was found in Crystal Lake near the shoreline.

"Officers arrived on scene and located a male who was face down in the water," police said. "The male was determined to be deceased on scene."