The Marshall, Venue at Dinkytown and WaHu Student Apartments received more police calls in 2017 than other large off-campus apartment complexes, according to Minneapolis Police Department data obtained by the Minnesota Daily.
MPD’s calls-for-service list is comprised of all criminal and non-emergency calls placed to a certain address. The Marshall received the most police calls in 2017 of the apartments analyzed by the Daily, totaling 124. The Venue followed with 117 calls, then WaHu with 112 calls.
The Daily also received data for The Knoll, FloCo Fusion, The Bridges, The 700 on Washington, The Station on Washington and GrandMarc Seven Corners. Many of these apartments advertise a “luxury experience” for students, with strict security standards including keyless entry systems and controlled access.
The majority of calls placed to MPD were for escorts, a non-emergency call to move someone from a building or room. Other notable calls include thefts, burglaries, loud music and more.
Lucy Stiles, a community assistant at The Marshall, said the amount of calls to the apartment is not unexpected considering its large scale. She said the 650-room complex is in a “central” position in Dinkytown, and as a result, many students come to visit.
Stiles said The Marshall employs security guards every night from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. These security guards sit by the main entrance as well as patrol the hallways for any criminal activity.
Residents are encouraged to use the apartment’s services to resolve issues internally without having to call MPD, she said. Many students don’t know they can call or email staff at The Marshall for immediate assistance.
“It’s very rare to get more than two calls per night during the week, however, between Thursday and Sunday we get more than four,” Stiles said.
In 2017, MPD responded to 10 calls about loud music or parties at The Marshall. Officers were also called to the Dinkytown complex three times due to the sound of shots fired, seven times for suspicious person reports and 11 times for unwanted persons.
Most calls to The Venue at Dinkytown in 2017 were for foot patrol and police check-ins. The Venue also had seven reports of narcotic activities, the highest of the apartments examined by the Daily.
Of the nine apartments analyzed, WaHu residents placed the most calls to MPD for thefts and burglaries. In 2017, there were 17 reported thefts and five reported burglaries.
WaHu resident Radhika Sharma said the apartment complex is more lively than other places in Stadium Village, but the prevalence of crime is a drawback. Sharma, a University junior, said she knew of a theft on her floor where the suspects stole a TV and other items.
WaHu management didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The Knoll, located at 1101 University Ave. SE, had fewer police calls than most apartment complexes in 2017 and 2018 so far. MPD responded to a total of 35 calls at the complex between Jan. 1, 2017 and April 18, 2018. The majority of calls were for police escorts, EMS personnel assistance and disturbances due to residential smoke alarms.
FloCo Fusion also had fewer police calls than other complexes. MPD responded to 40 calls in 2017 and 14 so far this year. The 2017 numbers include four reported burglaries and seven reported thefts.
University sophomore Taylor Urie said she feels “somewhat safe” in her apartment. While there is a security guard at the main door, she said FloCo does not guard other entrances.
Urie said FloCo prints residents’ information on a tag attached to their keychains. She worries if she loses her keys, someone could gain access to her apartment.
The Station on Washington and The 700 on Washington are two apartment complexes located less than 300 feet away from each other. The frequency of police calls to these buildings are disproportionate: The Station residents placed 63 calls to MPD in 2017, while The 700 residents only placed 20 calls.
