The Brainerd Police Department completed their investigation into the curfew violations from late May, after law enforcement reporting they received credible threats of violence following a demonstration in downtown Bemidji, thus prompting a city-wide curfew.
According to a release from Chief of Police Mike Mastin, those accused of violating curfew were authorized through the exemption clause that was included in the proclamation and declaration of a local emergency and curfew order issued by the City of Bemidji on May 30.
Mastin, in his release, said, “I’m not afraid to admit when I made a poor decision, and this was one of those times. On this evening the situation was fluid and rapidly evolving. Sheriff Beitel and I were handling large amounts of information and trying to do our best.”
Mastin further stated that Representative Matt Grossell and other citizens were not authorized to actively patrol city streets.
Mastin said, “I believe that we all want to live in a safe community” and “we need our community to be engaged and participate in promoting safety and security. This ideology is the foundation of community policing.”
Read the full release here: Curfew Decision INV
