Violent crime in Marcy-Holmes climbed late last month amid two high-profile attempted abductions in the area.
Crime trends
Year-to-date violent crime has doubled compared to last year in Cedar-Riverside from 10 to 20 and increased from two to six in Southeast Como. Violent crime decreased from 10 to six incidents in Prospect Park. The number has mostly stagnated in Marcy-Holmes, increasing from 12 to 14.
But violent crime has risen during recent weeks in Marcy-Holmes, which saw five violent crimes from Feb. 17-29 this year. This marks an uptick from just one — an aggravated assault — during the same time frame last year, which includes March 1 because 2020 is a leap year.
Violent crime remained low at zero or one incidents in all campus neighborhoods besides Marcy-Holmes during the last two weeks of February in both 2019 and 2020.
The last two weeks of February also drew an increase in property crimes in Southeast Como and Prospect Park compared to last year, respectively rising from two to nine and 19 to 23.
Notable crimes
Marcy-Holmes saw the second abduction attempt in two weeks on Sunday. The attempt reportedly occurred in the evening at the 700 block of 8th Avenue Southeast. The suspect tried to grab the victim from behind. Responding police officers canvassed the area in search of the suspect or witnesses.
While the Minneapolis Police Department did not denote a link to past crimes, the area has seen other similar incidents in the preceding months.
Just blocks away, an attempted kidnapping occurred on Feb. 18 around the intersection of 6th Street Southeast and 10th Avenue Southeast. MPD noted that this crime was connected to similar assaults that have occurred in Minneapolis since 2018.
In a Monday interview with the Minnesota Daily, MPD spokesperson John Elder urged people to reach out with any tips — even if they may seem insignificant.
On Friday, an Uber driver was assaulted while driving near the intersection of University Avenue Southeast and East Hennepin Avenue. Police documents say the injury was minor, and minimal suspect information was noted.
Minneapolis police responded to reports of a person with a handgun at Sally’s Friday around bar close, which police documents classified as an assault. The suspect was gone when police arrived.
University of Minnesota Police Department officers responded to reports of a peeping Tom on the 900 block of 7th Street Southeast on Feb. 26. The suspect was looking into the residence of two female University students.
