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Jun 5, 2007 7:36 am US/Central
Woman, 33, Arrested In Probation Officer's Death
St. Paul (WCCO) ―
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Howard Porter, who lived in St. Paul, was found unconscious and severely beaten in a North Minneapolis alley on May 19. He died May 26 at a local hospital. (File)
St. Paul Police Department
St. Paul Police arrested a woman in connection with the death of Howard Porter, a probation officer from Ramsey County. The woman, 33, was booked into the Ramsey County Jail late Sunday on suspicion of homicide.
The county has until Tuesday at noon to charge the woman.
The woman was on probation in the past after being convicted of possession of crack cocaine, but Porter was not one of her probation officers, said Chris Crutchfield, spokesman for Ramsey County Community Corrections.
"She was booked into the Ramsey County LEC and charged with murder. Obviously this investigation is open and it's ongoing," said St. Paul Police spokesperson Tom Walsh. "But at this point, I think it is good news that we do have a person in custody. We're very comfortable that she is involved in this case."
Police also said they arrested a man who was later released pending further investigation.
News that a woman was involved surprised some people in St. Paul, especially the suspect's neighbors.
Matilda Smith is staying with her daughter across the street and has been following the case.
"A woman. I never would have believed. I never would have believed that it was a woman. I always thought when it happened that it was a man or maybe some men but never would have believed it was a woman and I still don't believe she did it. I just think she knows something about who did," she said.
Walsh would not comment on whether there were more suspects.
Porter, who lived in St. Paul, was found unconscious and severely beaten in a North Minneapolis alley on May 19. He died May 26 at a local hospital.
Before Porter was a probation officer, he played college and professional basketball. He played for Villanova from 1968 to 1971and in the NBA for Chicago, Detroit and New York.
Villanova and three NBA groups had offered a $20,000 reward for information about Porter's death.
Crutchfield said the Corrections Department is cautiously optimistic about the developments in the case.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
