Federal prosecutors and local law enforcement agents say they destroyed a major heroin ring in the Twin Cities, and eight people are now facing federal charges for selling the drugs in Minneapolis.
The group called themselves "The Crew," and Fox 9 cameras were there when police put them out of business during a major, metro-wide effort to crack down on the opiates. It took months to net the dealers and runners who are allegedly part of a sophisticated network. Yet, it all came to an end in the middle of the night last week while Fox 9 News watched the top dog get taken down.
Richard Lee English, also known as "Nation," was pulled over in Interstate 94 in Minneapolis at about 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Federal prosecutors claim English was one of two leaders of the Twin Cities heroin ring called "The Crew."
"Make no mistake about it; this was a 24-hour-a-day retail heroin sales organization, and now, they're out of business," U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said.
On Monday afternoon, Luger was joined by other local law enforcement officials at a press conference for the indictment of the group accused of running large quantities of heroin from Mexico through Chicago and driving it north to sell the drugs on the streets of north Minneapolis. In fact, it's believed that English was busted in his Lincoln while returning from a run to the Windy City. Luger's office claims English and his partner would buy 300 to 400 grams at a time and then cut them down to street-size sale-packets -- an estimated 5,000 per month at a value of $140,000. Now, Luger says those arrests should send a strong message.
"If you are a heroin dealer, there is no safe place in Minnesota to do business," he warned.
Investigators say the ring operated using a so-called "central dispatch" number that users could call in order to be directed to somewhere in north Minneapolis, west of Interstate 94, to make the buy. Often, the sales were made near schools and youth centers, police say. Dan Moren, of the Drug Enforcement Administration, estimated that the arrests will eliminate nearly $1.6 million in annual drug proceeds for the Mexican drug cartels.
Friday, October 10 2014 4:01 PM EDT2014-10-10 20:01:15 GMT
A Minnesota woman who stole an ambulance Friday morning from a hospital in Chicago's northwest suburbs was arrested in downstate Rantoul, Ill. more than two hours later, police said. The ambulance was stolen about 4:20 a.m. from Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Ill.
A Minnesota woman who stole an ambulance Friday morning from a hospital in Chicago's northwest suburbs was arrested in downstate Rantoul, Ill. more than two hours later, police said. The ambulance was stolen about 4:20 a.m. from Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Ill.
Friday, October 10 2014 8:56 AM EDT2014-10-10 12:56:02 GMT
Two weeks ago, a Twin Cities mom had an idea to write kind words in sidewalk chalk for all the kids to see.She posted the idea for Kindness in Chalk on her blog and Facebook page, and it's already spread beyond Minnesota's borders.
Two weeks ago, a Twin Cities mom had an idea to write kind words in sidewalk chalk for all the kids to see.She posted the idea for Kindness in Chalk on her blog and Facebook page, and it's already spread beyond Minnesota's borders.
Friday, October 10 2014 9:00 AM EDT2014-10-10 13:00:12 GMT
One person is dead after an officer-involved shooting at a trailer park in St. Anthony Village, Minn. A report of shots fired came in just before 10 p.m. Thursday night at the Lowry Grove Trailer Park.
One person is dead after an officer-involved shooting at a trailer park in St. Anthony Village, Minn. A report of shots fired came in just before 10 p.m. Thursday night at the Lowry Grove Trailer Park.
Friday, October 10 2014 8:37 AM EDT2014-10-10 12:37:25 GMT
Downtown Minneapolis may look like a scene out of "The Walking Dead" this weekend -- but although the zombies who fill the city for the annual pub crawl spend a lot of money, some businesses aren't thrilled.
Downtown Minneapolis may look like a scene out of "The Walking Dead" this weekend -- but although the zombies who fill the city for the annual pub crawl spend a lot of money, some businesses aren't thrilled.
Thursday, October 9 2014 3:52 PM EDT2014-10-09 19:52:21 GMT
Minneapolis police say they're 100 percent confident they've arrested the man involved in two assaults that happened in Ramp C near Target Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Minneapolis police say they're 100 percent confident they've arrested the man involved in two assaults that happened in Ramp C near Target Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Thursday, October 9 2014 6:51 PM EDT2014-10-09 22:51:28 GMT
To the kids involved, it seemed like fun and games -- a silly way to celebrate homecoming, but Farmington police say the stunt students pulled was dangerous, dumb, and possibly criminal.
To the kids involved, it seemed like fun and games -- a silly way to celebrate homecoming, but Farmington police say the stunt students pulled was dangerous, dumb, and possibly criminal.
Wednesday, October 8 2014 10:38 PM EDT2014-10-09 02:38:46 GMT
A Stillwater family is asking for help from the local community because they want to have their loved one home while she recovers from a horrific car accident that occurred on a vacation to Ireland.
A Stillwater family is asking for help from the local community because they want to have their loved one home while she recovers from a horrific car accident that occurred on a vacation to Ireland.
Thursday, October 9 2014 8:07 PM EDT2014-10-10 00:07:50 GMT
Prosecutors have leveled two felony charges of animal torture against a 26-year-old man who they say organized a dog fight that left a pit bull terrier gravely injured and refused to take the dog to treatment.
Prosecutors have leveled two felony charges of animal torture against a 26-year-old man who they say organized a dog fight that left a pit bull terrier gravely injured and refused to take the dog to treatment.
