Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota and Anoka counties under curfew following Daunte Wright shooting

(FOX 9) - Hennepin, Ramsey and Anoka counties are under a curfew Monday night into Tuesday morning following the unrest that took place in Brooklyn Center Sunday after the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright. This includes Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced Monday that the cities are declaring a state of emergency and will be under curfew from 7 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Governor Walz stated the curfew applies to all cities within Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota and Anoka counties from 7 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday.

During the curfew, residents should not travel in public spaces, either by car or on foot. However, people traveling for work or emergency care, fleeing dangerous situations, or experiencing homelessness are exempt from the restrictions. Additionally, law enforcement, fire, medical personnel, National Guard and members of the media are exempt. Metro Transit will continue to operate only for these individual purposes.

Metro Transit will continue to operate buses and light rail for those who are traveling to/from work, seeking care, or fleeing dangerous circumstances.

Two COVID-19 testing sites -- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Brooklyn Park/Starlite Center -- are also closing early at 5:30 p.m. to give Minnesotans time to get home before the curfew.

Minneapolis has also made exceptions for the following community patrol organizations: A Mother’s Love, Center for Multicultural Mediation, Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI), Corcoran Neighborhood Organization and T.O.U.C.H. Outreach, Change Equals Opportunity (C.E.O.), Restoration Inc., and We Push for Peace.  

Law enforcement prepares for possible unrest

Operation Safety Net, the coalition of law enforcement agencies formed to maintain peace during the trial of Derek Chauvin, addressed the state's concerns over safety. Governor Walz and the mayors were joined by Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson and Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington in discussing plans for the upcoming days.

Gov. Walz said the "largest police presence" in Minnesota history will be prepared and will arrest anyone who wants to cause destruction.

"I'm optimistic that, with the officers we have present and the calls for peace that we are making, that even if we do have protests tonight, they will be lawful and they will be peaceful," Commissioner Harrington said. "That is my hope." 

Law enforcement officials said residents can expect to see increased patrols following the unrest Sunday. Monday morning, about 500 National Guard personnel could be seen in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Brooklyn Center.

Reaction from officials

Governor Tim Walz offered condolences to the family of Daunte Wright and noted its timing during the trial of Derek Chauvin, the officer charged in the death of George Floyd. After Floyd's death sparked protests and violence last summer, the governor made extra calls for peace as well as reform.

"As the world’s watching during the trial of Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd, emotions and trauma are high in our state," he said. "We can either come together to fix this or we can suffer together as fools," he said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the Brooklyn Center officer's action "a careless and tragic mistake in a profession where that just can't happen."

"We are united," he said. "This anguish cannot translate into violence."