After dozens of people found their tires slashed during recent protests in Minneapolis, the victims assumed the damage had been caused by unruly demonstrators. But video that surfaced Monday reveals the real culprits were police officers.
Video shows law enforcement officers stabbing and slashing tires of vehicles parked on the street during a protest near Interstate 35, while another clip shows dozens of slashed tires on cars parked at a Kmart. "Every car that's parked here has their tires slashed," the cameraman, Andrew Kimmel, can be heard saying. "Every single car. Unbelievable. I can't get home now."
Anoka County Sheriff's Lieutenant Andy Knotz admits that deputies took part in the slashing spree, but says they only did it on orders from Minnesota's Multiagency Command Center.
In turn, a rep for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety says the order was given to stop people from "driving at high speeds" during the protests. "State Patrol troopers strategically deflated tires in order to stop behaviors such as vehicles driving dangerously and at high speeds in and around protesters and law enforcement," Bruce Gordon says. He adds officers specifically targeted vehicles "that contained items used to cause harm," like rocks or bottles.
Check out the video below!!