Aug 30, 2008 11:25 pm US/Central
St. Paul, Mpls. Raids Target RNC Protesters
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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Officers said they seized a wide variety of materials ranging from weapons, ropes, buckets, laptops and other equipment.
CBS
Police in the Twin Cities have been busy looking for individuals who may be a threat to the Republican National Convention. They have been executing search warrants where leaders of the group called the "RNC Welcoming Committee" are believed to be staying and organizing. Police said some members of the group are interested in committing serious, criminal acts.
Two of the raids happened in St. Paul: 627 Smith Avenue Friday night and 951 Iglehart Avenue Saturday afternoon. Earlier Saturday there were three raids in Minneapolis: 2301 23rd Avenue South, 3500 Harriet Avenue South, and 3240 17th Avenue South.
By 3:00 Saturday afternoon police had surrounded a duplex on Iglehart Avenue in St. Paul. Inside were members of a group called "I-Witness Video." The group, known for documenting police misconduct, was active at the 2004 RNC in New York. Supporters outside the house communicated with leaders inside.
"We have locked all the doors. We have been told that if we leave we will be detained," said supporter Denis Moynahan while reading a text message sent from one of the group's leaders inside the house.
Police had a search warrant, but it was only for half of the duplex. Eventually a judge allowed investigators to search the entire residence, and several members of I-Witness Video were handcuffed and brought outside. Investigators eventually concluded their search and everyone was let go.
Police said this is part of an ongoing investigation. They are looking for members of an anarchist group called the "RNC Welcoming Committee," and they have reason to believe some of the groups' leaders are hiding out in St. Paul.
Authorities said the anarchists use weapons to try and hurt police. During raids this weekend they have confiscated makeshift maps and weapons, including machetes, hatchets, knives, metal pipes and homemade devices believed to be used to disable buses. They also found buckets of urine that police believe anarchists were going to throw at them.
"These are people interested in committing serious, criminal acts and hurting officers along the way," said Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.
Police said 67 cities have sent anarchists to St. Paul to support the RNC Welcoming Committee. They said the groups' ultimate goal is to block streets around the Xcel Energy Center and prevent delegates from entering the Convention.
So far police have arrested five people during their raids, but don't have enough evidence to charge them. Those individuals were moved to the Ramsey County Jail Saturday night.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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