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Ariel Luis Barnett pleaded guilty Friday in Dakota County Court to two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of kidnapping to commit great bodily harm and one count of a firearm violation for a convicted felon.
Authorities said a man who impersonated a police officer and allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in Anoka County has been arrested. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office said the incident took place at about 1 p.m. on Nov. 23 on the 6400 block of 5th Street NE in Fridley.
A truck driver from Utah is accused of holding a 19-year-old relative against her will while the two traveled across country. The 53-year-old man from Salt Lake City was arrested last week at a truck scale outside of Moorhead, Minn. A Minnesota state trooper discovered a Florida warrant for the man's arrest. The man was charged in Clay County court with kidnapping, false imprisonment and domestic abuse.
A man claiming to be a police officer kidnapped a woman in Fridley and sexually assaulted her Saturday afternoon. Now, authorities say it may be connected to a similar incident involving a University of Minnesota student.
A 40-year-old Spring Lake Park man faces multiple charges after he allegedly assaulted and cut a woman whom he'd had an on-and-off relationship with for five years.
Authorities say a tip from an ex-wife pointed them to a Sartell man suspected in a string of armed robberies along Interstate 94 from the St. Cloud area to the Minneapolis suburbs. Police released a security video after a masked man robbed a Burger King in Maple Grove Wednesday. The ex-wife of 34-year-old Douglas Wayne Gravelle saw the video on the news and told police he wore the same clothes at a child support hearing. She said he's addicted to prescription drugs and unemployed.
A Minnesota woman is recovering at an Illinois hospital after being held captive on a boat on the Mississippi River for two weeks, according to authorities. According to KHQA-TV, the Adams County Sheriff's office received a phone call at 11 a.m. Friday about a boat that matched the description of one connected to a missing Minnesota woman. Authorities stopped the suspect boat in Quincy at Lock and Dam 21. After a brief standoff, the male suspect was taken in to custody.
Two men have been charged with kidnapping a Verizon Wireless retail store manager in the west Twin Cities metro Wednesday night. According to the criminal complaints, William Charles Graham, 30, and Ronald Jermaine Jackson, 29, were both involved in the Wednesday night incident in Loretto.
Authorities say two men are in custody after they apparently kidnapped another man in the west Twin Cities metro Wednesday night. Police said the incident happened late Wednesday night in Medina near the area of Highway 55 and Pioneer Trail.
The 31-year-old Burnsville man who allegedly held two people at gunpoint during a standoff at a Burnsville gas station on Saturday has been charged. Ariel Luis Barnett was charged Tuesday in Dakota County for two counts of second-degree assault and two counts of kidnapping.
A 30-year-old Minneapolis woman who kidnapped her friend's baby back in February, prompting an Amber Alert, was sentenced in Hennepin County Court on Monday. Isabel Diaz-Castillo was sentenced to three years in prison with credit for 181 days served. She pleaded guilty back in July to one count of kidnapping in connection with the incident.
It seems an online rumor has parents in the Twin Cities scared that their kids could be kidnapped. Parents in Washington County and Inver Grove Heights said they're being approached by door-to-door saleswomen asking questions about their children's ages and interests, then trying to sell books.
Four sisters are in trouble with the law after allegedly staging a dramatic kidnapping outside the Forest Lake Walmart. Authorities said the girls' mother turned them into police.
A 30-year-old Minneapolis woman has pleaded guilty to kidnapping a friend's baby, according to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.
A St. Paul man was charged Friday with multiple crimes relating to a home invasion on Wednesday which led to a sexual assault and robbery. According to the Ramsey County Attorney's office, 18-year-old Curtez DeShawn Graham was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of kidnapping and one count of first-degree robbery.
The Hennepin County Attorney filed charges against a Twin Cities woman accused of kidnapping her friend's baby. Thalia Tonice Benson, 34, faces one felony count of kidnapping in connection to the Tuesday incident.
The mother of a 2-month-old baby taken from her home Tuesday says she forgives the woman accused of kidnapping her child. "I'm not going to put her out as a bad person," said Christina Alonzo. "She is a really good person. I've known her for so long."
A Department of Corrections (DOC) fugitive was charged Friday with first-degree aggravated robbery, second-degree assault and fleeing police in a motor vehicle after a crime spree Thursday night in the Twin Cities. According to Minneapolis Police, 39-year-old Brandon Stark approached four people with a knife late Thursday night in Minneapolis. The crime spree ended with Stark crashing a stolen car in St. Paul during a police chase.
The kind of kidnapping that captivates the country -- and the media -- is thankfully very rare. On average 115 children under the age of 18 are abducted by strangers each year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
A 45-year-old man has been sentenced for conspiring to commit kidnapping in an incident where he unknowingly made a deal with a police officer to kidnap and kill his ex-girlfriend.
The woman accused of kidnapping a baby boy last week from a south Minneapolis apartment made her first court appearance Monday.
A Minneapolis woman has been charged with kidnapping after police said she befriended another woman and then made off with her 8-month-old son.
A kidnapped baby boy is safe Thursday morning and back with his mother after a frightening series of events Wednesday afternoon.
A 26-year-old Bovey, Minn., man is facing at least 35 years in prison after pleading guilty in Itasca County Court Thursday to charges in connection with the murder of one person and attempted murder of another in Grand Rapids last December.
It was supposed to be a mission trip to minister to women and children in Guatemala. But just a few hours into the trip, church members from Minnesota and western Wisconsin were begging for their lives.
Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves are still trying to climb over the hump at the top of the NBA after losing in the second round to the San Antonio Spurs.
Wildfires are spreading quickly in northern Minnesota and burning hundreds of acres of land among extreme fire risk conditions on Saturday.
Authorities in northern Minnesota are asking for tips from the public after a fire suppression aircraft was struck by a bullet on Friday.
A wildfire several miles north of Two Harbors, Minnesota, has grown to over 370 acres, according to officials.
Monday will mark five years since the tragic killing of 6-year-old Aniya Allen in Minneapolis
Monday will mark five years since the tragic killing of 6-year-old Aniya Allen in Minneapolis
Saturday looks perfect with ample sunshine, highs in the low 80s and less wind than previous days. Things turn active on Sunday.
Quincy Street isn't just at the center of Art-A-Whirl, it's at the heart of the Arts District in northeast Minneapolis. The road itself, however, is falling apart. And the only thing bumpier than the exposed brick is the reaction to the city's plans to fix it.
Staff with the City of Minneapolis are moving forward with a recommendation to give development rights for the Peoples' Way, located at George Floyd Square, to the Minnesota Agape Movement, officials said.
Dozens of beagles are getting a fresh start in Minnesota after they were rescued from a biomedical research center near Madison, Wisconsin.
Wildfires are spreading quickly in northern Minnesota and burning hundreds of acres of land among extreme fire risk conditions on Saturday.
Authorities in northern Minnesota are asking for tips from the public after a fire suppression aircraft was struck by a bullet on Friday.
A wildfire several miles north of Two Harbors, Minnesota, has grown to over 370 acres, according to officials.
Saturday looks perfect with ample sunshine, highs in the low 80s and less wind than previous days. Things turn active on Sunday.
Crews are working to put out a wildfire in Lake County that has burned around 100 acres, the Minnesota Incident Command System said Friday night.
A driver went airborne during a high-speed police chase in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, after fleeing a traffic stop.
Fifty beagles rescued from animal testing in Wisconsin are set to arrive in Minnesota Thursday.
A 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River towns is hosting its annual 100 Mile Garage Sale this weekend, drawing shoppers and sellers from across the region and beyond.
Minnesota animal rescues are stepping up to take in dogs from a Wisconsin research facility accused of animal abuse.
You may have heard of Give to the Max Day, where people donate millions of dollars to hundreds of nonprofits and organizations across Minnesota on a single day. That idea has spread to western Wisconsin, called Give Big Valleys.
Quincy Street isn't just at the center of Art-A-Whirl, it's at the heart of the Arts District in northeast Minneapolis. The road itself, however, is falling apart. And the only thing bumpier than the exposed brick is the reaction to the city's plans to fix it.
Somali and Muslim leaders in Minnesota played a threatening voicemail at a public gathering Friday, saying businesses in their community are being targeted with messages warning of death.
The Black homeownership rate in the Twin Cities dropped to 29% in 2024, and the region had the largest gap between Black and White homeownership rates of any comparable metro in the country.
Bobby Rogers once came to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to sketch and study; now he leads its design and editorial work, shaping what visitors see and experience.
Moses Cooper, who has cerebral palsy, met running partner Mark Hulsey through My Team Triumph Minnesota two years ago and the pair qualified for the Boston Marathon at Grandma's Marathon last summer.
WCCO's Adam Duxter and Esme Murphy have updates as the Minnesota Legislative session nears end.
Reg Chapman has the morning headlines.
President Trump announced Friday evening that U.S. and Nigerian military forces had killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a leader in the Islamic State group.
A protest led by DFL members of the Minnesota House over a stalled gun reform bill entered the 24-hour mark on Friday night as the session goes down to the wire. The state representatives are holding the floor at the Minnesota State Capitol in hopes of getting a vote on the legislation. Republicans in the chamber say it's already had its chance. Ubah Ali spoke with a political science professor about how this compares to previous demonstrations over similar proposals.
A round-the-clock protest entered its 22nd hour at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on Friday evening. With just two days left in the session, DFL lawmakers are holding a sit-in in the Minnesota House. They want Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth to allow a vote on gun control in the wake of the deadly Annunciation shooting. WCCO’ Esme Murphy shares where the debate stands as of Friday evening.
Part of the end-of-session deal in the Minnesota Legislature rolls back skyrocketing tab renewal fees. Those fees have electric vehicle owners especially revved up.
In Minnesota, you'll be able to try one at St. Paul's CHS Field.
With more Americans opting to drive rather than fly amid higher costs, South Dakota tourism officials say the state is well-positioned as a regional road trip destination.
President Trump's idea to save drivers a few dollars at the pump could cost them in the long run.
A 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River towns is hosting its annual 100 Mile Garage Sale this weekend, drawing shoppers and sellers from across the region and beyond.
Authorities in northern Minnesota are asking for tips from the public after a fire suppression aircraft was struck by a bullet on Friday.
Monday will mark five years since the tragic killing of 6-year-old Aniya Allen in Minneapolis
Police in Rochester, Minnesota, are investigating a shooting near Essex Park, according to a post on social media.
Justin Eichorn, the former Republican Minnesota state senator charged last year with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, appeared in a St. Paul federal court Thursday where he instead pleaded guilty to attempted possession of child pornography.
Federal investigators say four men from South America burglarized homes in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida, and walked away with more than a million dollars worth of cash, jewelry, firearms, precious metals and rare coins.
It comes after insurers stopped paying for their kids' daily care, which they argue was covered as part of a 15-year-old state law. As the end of the Minnesota session nears, lawmakers have four days to make a change.
A Twin Cities teenager is facing an unimaginable battle: terminal cancer. She's fortunate enough to have family by her side through her fearless fight as they all hope for a miracle.
Dr. Gianrico Farrugia has led Mayo Clinic since 2019, and the organization said it was his decision to "complete his tenure at the end of this year."
Twin Cities emergency room physicians, nurses and technicians made an emotional plea Tuesday for lawmakers to do something about Minnesota's gun laws.
The Minnesota Department of Health said Tuesday afternoon that it is monitoring a person who was potentially exposed to someone who tested positive for hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
The Library of Congress revealed this year's list of 25 recordings to be preserved for future generations on the National Recording Registry.
Dave Ryan announced Wednesday that May 22 will be his last day at KDWB, ending a 33-year run at the Twin Cities station.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are calling their Aug. 29 show "Homecoming: A Celebration of the Minneapolis Sound."
A trial in the lawsuit between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni was set to begin later in May.
The Minnesota Star Tribune was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for its coverage of a mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school that killed two children and injured more than a dozen others.
Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves are still trying to climb over the hump at the top of the NBA after losing in the second round to the San Antonio Spurs.
Defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek were unable to play for the Minnesota Wild in the second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL playoffs because of broken bones in their feet.
Aaron Ashby became the major leagues' first eight-game winner, helped when an interference call on third baseman Royce Lewis allowed the tying run to score in a two-run eighth inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 for their seventh win in eight games.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been eliminated from the postseason after losing to the San Antonio Spurs 139-109 on Friday night in Minneapolis.
The Preakness Stakes featured its biggest field in 15 years with 14 horses in the middle jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown.
Amy Klobuchar is putting her gubernatorial campaign into high gear. She faces no significant opposition in the race for the DFL endorsement and her existing record of statewide wins is formidable.
The legislation establishes a list of requirements aimed at improving transparency and reducing conflicts within HOAs. Minnesota estimates that 25% of its residents live in an HOA, and 82% of new homes are built within one.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Dana Ohman, an attorney who handles HOA disputes, about some of the most common questions homeowners have.
Sen. Tina Smith is using her last months in office to vocally campaign for progressive and environmental causes. She hopes that a progressive will succeed her when Minnesotans go to the polls next November.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
For nearly 50 years, Farmamerica has been sowing agricultural knowledge near Waseca, Minnesota.
The carillon has 56 bells, and the Mayo Clinic said that makes it one of the largest instruments in the world and the largest instrument in Minnesota.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, including in Minnesota, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
At Arnie Lillo's Creations in Blue Earth County, you can visit a metal-scaled version of the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge. The works of art have taken on a shape of their own.
President Trump's idea to save drivers a few dollars at the pump could cost them in the long run.
More people than the entire population of Minneapolis, or half a million, were estimated to go fishing in Minnesota this past weekend. WCCO looks at how the tradition stacks up with other outdoor events that keep the state's economy running.
A deadly virus that's killed cruise ship passengers can be traced to small critters found hiding in homes.
So far this decade, the Twin Cities metro has, on average, added about 17,000 housing units per year, according to data from the Metropolitan Council.
A symbolic change is bothering some Minnesotans. Now their local leaders are listening; several cities are voting to fly the old state flag instead of the new one. While it was a drastic redesign, it wasn't the first.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
Meteorologist Lisa Meadows has the latest forecast.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
Meteorologist Lisa Meadows has the latest forecast, with severe weather expected Sunday.
Saturday looks perfect with ample sunshine, highs in the low 80s and less wind than previous days. Things turn active on Sunday.
Meteorologist Adam Del Rosso has the latest forecast.
Meteorologist Lisa Meadows has the latest forecast.
WCCO's Adam Duxter and Esme Murphy have updates as the Minnesota Legislative session nears end.
Wildfires in northern Minnesota are estimated to have burned hundreds of acres, and continue to spread rapidly Saturday.
Meteorologist Lisa Meadows has the latest forecast, with severe weather expected Sunday.
A wildfire several miles north of Two Harbors, Minnesota, has grown to over 370 acres, according to officials. Video from social media shows its destruction.