Lake Street investigation: Seizure of 900 pounds of meth linked to federal search
Minneapolis ICE investigation update
Authorities seized 900 pounds of meth and portraits of Scarface during searches connected to an investigation on Lake Street last week that was mistaken for an ICE raid by protesters.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Authorities say the criminal investigation along Lake Street in Minneapolis last week, that was mistaken for an ICE raid, started with the seizure of 900 pounds of meth in Burnsville.
Federal investigation led to protest
The backstory:
A federal task force swarmed Cuatro Milpas, a Mexican restaurant at Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue, on Tuesday, June 3 as part of a criminal investigation. The task force included Homeland Security and ICE agents, which sparked rumors online that an ICE raid was underway in Minneapolis.
The rumors brought a crowd of protesters to the intersection, who showed up to oppose the ICE operation. Authorities later clarified the operation was a criminal investigation – not an immigration enforcement action.
Feds swarm Minneapolis business causing rumors
Nearly 12 hours after federal agents swarmed a business in south Minneapolis there are still few official answers about what exactly happened, with some on social media saying it stemmed from an immigration raid, and the mayor of Minneapolis contradicting those claims. FOX 9’s Mike Manzoni is in Minneapolis with the latest.
Isabel Lopez arrested, charged
What we know:
During the protest, there were clashes between activists and law enforcement.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced charges against a woman who they say attacked federal agents.
Isabel Lopez, 27 of St. Paul, is accused of obstructing the investigation, attacking agents and officers, kicking an FBI agent and throwing a softball at a Hennepin County Sheriff's deputy. When law enforcement officers attempted to arrest her, prosecutors say she punched a FBI agent in the head.
She is charged with assaulting, resisting, and impeding officers.
Because of the protest, authorities said they had to leave the investigation scene before they could "collect all the desired evidence" related to the criminal investigation.
8 search warrants executed in Twin Cities metro
What's new?:
The complaint against Lopez shed new details about the criminal investigation on Lake Street.
After the protest, authorities only said the task force was looking into a multinational investigation related to human and drug trafficking along with money laundering.
The new complaint states the task force executed eight search warrants on June 3 in Burnsville, Bloomington, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Minneapolis, and Northfield.
Authorities say before the June 3 searches, authorities had already uncovered 900 pounds of crystal meth during a separate search. The meth was concealed in multiple tubes held in large spools of metal found inside a storage shed in Burnsville. Prosecutors say the street value of that meth is worth between $22 million and $25 million.
During the June 3 searches, investigators seized other items, including gold-plated firearms and portraits of Scarface.
What they're saying:
In a media release on the new criminal complaint, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said the information released on Tuesday is just part of the story.
"The information released in today’s indictment is only a fraction of the serious criminal activity for which our agency and federal law enforcement executed search warrants last Tuesday," said Sheriff Witt. "I want to reiterate that HCSO is not involved in civil immigration enforcement. We ARE involved in criminal investigations that impact the lives of people in Hennepin County. This case certainly fits the criteria."