Hennepin County Attorney Declines Felony Charges in Minneapolis City Hall Incident Involving Jake Lang
Photo: City of Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS : The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says it will not pursue felony charges related to Saturday’s incident outside Minneapolis City Hall involving Edward “Jake” Lang, citing evidence of prior communication and logistical coordination between the Minneapolis Police Department and Lang’s security detail.
According to the County Attorney’s Office, prosecutors reviewed extensive evidence concerning communication between MPD and Lang’s security detail and determined there was not a path to proving felony charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the decision was based on applicable law and evidence surrounding the incident. She said prosecutors could not prove the intent required for felony charges in light of the communication and coordination that occurred before the incident.
Moriarty strongly criticized Lang’s conduct while emphasizing that the decision not to pursue felony charges should not be interpreted as condoning his actions.
The County Attorney’s Office also addressed an incident in which an MPD officer was injured while helping a person who had fallen in front of a truck during the confrontation.
According to the office, the officer placed himself in front of the vehicle because he was concerned the driver did not see the person on the ground amid the surrounding crowd and chaos. The vehicle struck the officer.
However, the officer reportedly wrote in his report that he did not believe the driver saw what was happening. Because a felony assault charge requires proof of intent, prosecutors determined the available evidence did not support such a charge.
The officer was evaluated at a local hospital and released.
The County Attorney’s Office noted that its decision applies to potential felony charges and does not prevent the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office from pursuing applicable gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor charges.
Lang and several others had been arrested Saturday following a confrontation outside Minneapolis City Hall. Minneapolis police previously said two vehicles associated with Lang’s group drove onto the sidewalk near City Hall before a confrontation developed between members of the group and people gathered in the area.