St. Paul May Charge Protesters with Third-Degree Riot

St. Paul, MN – St. Paul City Attorney Samuel Clark released a statement Monday morning regarding the charging decisions against the 50 individuals arrested by the Minnesota State Patrol after they marched on Interstate 94 Saturday evening.

"Over the weekend, rioters endangered others when they stormed Interstate 94, refused to follow more than two dozen orders from law enforcement officers to leave the freeway, and instead opted to participate in an incident that developed into a full-scale riot," Clark said in the statement. "The State Patrol arrested and booked 50 individuals for third-degree riot, a gross misdemeanor.

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"My team is currently reviewing evidence from the event, including police reports, photos and video to determine whether or not there is sufficient evidence to charge at this time. We will make that initial determination as soon as reasonably possible and before the 10 p.m. deadline by which those arrested can be held without being charged."

The City Attorney’s Office is responsible for making charging decisions about these cases within 48 hours of the arrests. Individuals who have been arrested for third-degree riot are not entitled to bail until they have been charged.

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