St. Paul police are keeping key records under wraps from a tense Nov. 25 clash on the East Side tied to an ICE operation, declining to release body-worn camera video, internal reports or details on the chemicals officers used. The department says everything has to stay sealed while an outside review plays out, which leaves neighbors, journalists and advocates without the official paper trail that might explain why pepper balls and chemical irritants were fired on a residential block.
Records Locked Down While POST Board Probes Clash
According to the Star Tribune, the St. Paul Police Department rejected Minnesota Government Data Practices Act requests from both the newspaper and Communities United Against Police Brutality. In a Jan. 29 email, the department said the material is classified as “confidential investigative data” while a state Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training review is open.
The denial covers body-worn camera footage, written reports, and specific information about the chemical agents officers deployed that afternoon. On paper, the explanation tracks with the law; in practice, it keeps some of the most sought-after records out of public view for now.
What Went Down On Nov. 25
The confrontation started Nov. 25 on the East Side near the 600 block of East Rose Avenue, where federal agents were making an arrest and a crowd gathered to protest. As tensions rose, police and federal agents used smoke and chemical irritants to clear the street.
Video and eyewitness accounts show St. Paul officers firing pepper balls and other less-lethal munitions at protesters and journalists. Multiple photojournalists were hit, and at least one was taken to a hospital, according to the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists.
Council, Community Turn Up The Heat
City Hall did not wait long to respond. In December, the St. Paul City Council passed a resolution asking the state POST Board to investigate officers’ use of force at the scene, according to the city’s legislative record on stpaul.legistar.com…