Liz Sawyer
Reporter
Breaking news, crime and correctionsSawyer graduated from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in newspaper and online journalism. She worships her alma mater's college hoops team and thinks an orange is, in fact, a suitable mascot.
Latest from Liz Sawyer
Minneapolis![Minneapolis Park Police Officer Karl Zabinski bumps fists with Abdi, a regular visitor of Loring Park, Thursday, July 28, 2022 at Loring Park in Minneapolis, Minn. Halfway through the summer, the most violent parks in the whole Minneapolis system — Loring, Stevens Square and East Phillips Parks — have seen only one violent incident combined after Park Police tried a new strategy.] aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/U5ZBAHAY7N3FWOKZFL3S6WTJ7M.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)
Man who fired at Minneapolis park police officer last fall faces upgraded attempted murder charges
Muhyedin Abdirahman, 25, was slated for a jury trial this week in the attack on park police officer Karl Zabinski, who was not injured in an exchange of gunfire.
September 5, 2024
Twin Cities Suburbs
Myon Burrell convicted of felony drug, weapons charges related to 2023 Robbinsdale traffic stop
His legal team seeks to challenge the legality of the initial police stop and search of his vehicle before the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
September 3, 2024
Minneapolis
Minneapolis police herald recruitment efforts as applications up 45% compared to last year
For the first time since 2018, MPD is expected to end the year with more sworn officers than it started with.
August 30, 2024
Minneapolis
Amid allegations of illegal practices, Minneapolis will start auditing violence interrupter groups
But an attorney for the plaintiff said in court Wednesday that he isn’t dropping the lawsuit yet, asking a Hennepin County judge first to rule the city structurally fails to abide by state public records law.
August 21, 2024
Twin Cities
Shooting of 4 children in stolen car raises familiar alarm in Minneapolis
Two of the children ages 11 to 13 suffered serious injuries, including paralysis and concerns over brain swelling.
August 20, 2024
Twin Cities
Sources: Metro Transit chief under investigation for hostile workplace allegations
Multiple complaints by staff prompted an internal investigation this spring, but Morales was not placed on administrative leave until last Friday.
August 14, 2024
Elections
Did Tim Walz ‘let rioters burn down Minneapolis’?
The Trump campaign is hammering this line of attack in new ads. Through videos, interviews and other public documents, the Star Tribune pieced together a timeline of the governor’s response to the riots.
August 12, 2024
Minneapolis
Minneapolis police are seeking to expand ShotSpotter. Skeptics want proof it works.
Law enforcement credits the gunshot detection system with reducing response times, aiding investigations and tracking automatic gunfire. Critics claim it’s unreliable and leads to overpolicing.
August 3, 2024
Twin Cities
Shooting of 4 children in stolen car raises familiar alarm in Minneapolis
Two of the children ages 11 to 13 suffered serious injuries, including paralysis and concerns over brain swelling.
August 20, 2024
Twin Cities
Sources: Metro Transit chief under investigation for hostile workplace allegations
Multiple complaints by staff prompted an internal investigation this spring, but Morales was not placed on administrative leave until last Friday.
August 14, 2024
Elections
Did Tim Walz ‘let rioters burn down Minneapolis’?
The Trump campaign is hammering this line of attack in new ads. Through videos, interviews and other public documents, the Star Tribune pieced together a timeline of the governor’s response to the riots.
August 12, 2024
Minneapolis
Minneapolis police are seeking to expand ShotSpotter. Skeptics want proof it works.
Law enforcement credits the gunshot detection system with reducing response times, aiding investigations and tracking automatic gunfire. Critics claim it’s unreliable and leads to overpolicing.
August 3, 2024