Sheriff: Walnut Grove Police Chief Arrested In Prostitution Sting
Authorities say the Walnut Grove police chief was one of three men arrested on Friday in connection with a prostitution sting in western Minnesota.
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Authorities say the Walnut Grove police chief was one of three men arrested on Friday in connection with a prostitution sting in western Minnesota.
A St. Paul man pleaded guilty Tuesday to almost a dozen charges connected to recruiting, prostituting, trafficking, beating and raping women. The Ramsey County Attorney's Office says 35-year-old Rashad Ramon Ivy was the mastermind behind a sex trafficking organization that victimized at least seven women in St. Paul in 2015.
A 26-year-old St. Paul man was sentenced Tuesday to more than 24 years in prison for recruiting and trafficking teenage girls in Minnesota. Dontre D'Sean McHenry pleaded guilty in the case back on Oct. 17, 2014, and was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court.
A 40-year-old St. Paul man is accused of prostituting a 17-year-old girl in Washington County. On Monday, the Washington County Attorney's Office announced that Damon DiMartino was charged with promoting prostitution of a minor.
A convicted sexual predator is charged again with raping a teenage girl -- this time at gunpoint in a Minneapolis alley earlier this month. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office says 34-year-old Charles Edward Stevenson was charged Thursday with one count of first-degree penetration while armed with a dangerous weapon and one count of providing false information while registering as a sex offender.
An investigation into sex trafficking and prostitution has resulted in the arrest of a 40-year-old St. Cloud man, according to Waite Park police.
A Maple Grove man is facing charges for engaging in prostitution with a minor, according to Washington County officials.
A Northfield man faces sexual assault, coercion and prostitution charges after being accused of posing as law enforcement and forcing a prostitute to have sex. The Dakota County Attorney's Office says 26-year-old Alex Michael Hollinger is accused of connecting with a woman via backpage.com to have sex for money, but then claimed to be associated with law enforcement and threaten her to have sex with them for free or face jail.
A Ramsey County jury found Michael Mark Jordan, 43, guilty on two counts of engaging in prostitution with a minor Friday afternoon. Each conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
It is a heavy topic to talk about. Sex trafficking takes place in the shadows of the Twin Cities, but a new Minnesota company is hoping to shed light on the issue in a new way.
A man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being accused of using a 13-year-old runaway from Minneapolis to promote prostitution in Moorhead. Local stations report 25-year-old Prince Jones was sentenced Thursday. He had been convicted of promoting prostitution of an individual. He must serve at least 12 years of his sentence in prison.
In the last few years, the difficulty of dispelling massage parlor prostitution through traditional police methods has prompted some cities to experiment with a new enforcement approach.
Two men are accused of having sex with a runaway 17-year-old girl for money, in connection with a St. Paul prostitution sting earlier this year.
More than a dozen people are facing behind bars after a two-day prostitution sting by police at a Duluth area motel late this week. Fourteen men face charges for soliciting prostitution, one of whom faces additional charges for sex trafficking and selling methamphetamine. A woman was also taken into custody for offering prostitution services.
A North Branch massage parlor was the target of a prostitution raid on Tuesday.
The proprietors of Ramsey, Minnesota massage parlor are accused of profiting from the prostitution of their employees.
A Ramsey County judge handed down stern words and stiff sentences for an Eden Prairie couple convicted of prostituting a 15-year-old girl in St. Paul.
Two Hastings men are accused of prostituting an underage girl as a form of payment in a drug deal, according to charges filed in Dakota County Court. William Dale Willis, 25, and Daniel Rashaun Gopie, 27, were each charged with two felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the Sept. 21 incident.
A 25-year-old St. Paul man pleaded guilty Friday to one count of sex trafficking a minor. Dontre McHenry is accused of recruiting and trafficking teenage girls throughout Minnesota, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lugar. McHenry is suspected of coercing at least three girls under the age of 18 between January 2013 and March 2014.
Bloomington Police arrested 16 people in a recent prostitution sting, including the former CEO of a Twin Cities hospital. David Cress, 64, was among the 15 men and one woman arrested on Tuesday. North Memorial Medical Center cut ties with Cress after police arrested him in a prostitution sting in Richfield four years ago.
The former chief of police in Robbinsdale pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitute earlier this year. Steven Smith, 45, was arrested in Coon Rapids during a prostitution sting in February.
A 36-year-old California man is facing federal criminal charges following his arrest in Las Vegas on charges alleging he transported a teenage girl from Minnesota to Los Angeles to engage in prostitution. Records show that Laron Darrell Carter was scheduled to for a detention hearing before a magistrate judge on Tuesday. His public defender, Elisa Vasquez, declined comment.
Investigators are releasing new information on the prostitution sting that led to the arrest of the Robbinsdale police chief. Former police chief Steven Smith was one of 11 people taken into custody on Feb. 20 by Coon Rapids police. According to police records, he was answering an ad on Backpage.com that was placed by an undercover Coon Rapids officer.
The Robbinsdale police chief stepped down Saturday after being issued a citation for hiring and engaging in prostitution by the Coon Rapids Police Department on Feb. 20.
A suburban St. Louis man has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for transporting five female victims for prostitution purposes between Missouri and five other states. Federal prosecutors say 45-year-old Barry Wimberly of Hazelwood, Mo., pleaded guilty in December to one felony count of transportation for purposes of prostitution.
Retirement, like everything else, is getting more expensive. And more Minnesotans are worried they could outlive their savings.
President Trump said Americans' financial situation isn't motivating him to make a deal, "Not even a little bit," and that he is only focused on preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
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.
A Coon Rapids, Minnesota, man pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to unlawfully possessing a machine gun outside a high school graduation ceremony at the University of Minnesota last spring.
Federal authorities have apprehended a teenager in Georgia who is accused of opening fire near a popular University of Iowa nightlife district.
Retirement, like everything else, is getting more expensive. And more Minnesotans are worried they could outlive their savings.
A Coon Rapids, Minnesota, man pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to unlawfully possessing a machine gun outside a high school graduation ceremony at the University of Minnesota last spring.
A 38-year-old man and 37-year-old woman are in custody awaiting charges, according to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.
A judge sentenced a man who intentionally started a fire at a northeast Minneapolis duplex, killing his childhood friend, to more than 18 years in prison on Monday.
Hundreds of nurses at North Memorial Health's Maple Grove Hospital have voted to approve an unfair labor practice strike, their union announced Tuesday.
Rio is currently the oldest ocelot in human care — a remarkable achievement for a species that typically lives far shorter lives in captivity. Now living at The Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota, Rio spends her days enjoying hammocks, enrichment, sunny platforms, and the peaceful retirement every wild cat deserves.
A 16-year-old boy from Bemidji, Minnesota, is accused of shooting three people — including his parents — because they took away his cellphone privileges.
With energy prices putting pressure on families, one Minnesota company is utilizing the power of the sun to help ease the pain.
A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to over a decade in prison for sexually assaulting a woman at a central Minnesota college, according to court documents.
A former Winona, Minnesota, teacher and track coach accused of having sexual relations with three different high school students has been sentenced, court records said.
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.
Federal prosecutors say a small-town Wisconsin police chief tried to help California gun dealers import illegal armor-piercing rounds from Europe.
Local and federal law enforcement are investigating after nearly 50 firearms and "a large quantity of ammunition" were stolen from a sporting goods store in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Friday.
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.
Mackenzie Reed, head custodian at Shakopee East Middle School, has painted large-scale murals throughout the building she once attended as a student, creating a more welcoming space for current students.
The Minnesota House passed a bill with broad bipartisan Tuesday setting guardrails for social media accounts for kids, which is top of mind for parents across the state, and some students who testified during this process that they see the harms first hand in school.
President Trump said Americans' financial situation isn't motivating him to make a deal, "Not even a little bit," and that he is only focused on preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
The operator of the Dali, a container ship that lost power and slammed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in 2024, killing six people, is facing federal charges.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the $1.5 trillion the Pentagon is seeking is "admittedly a historic budget."
Pressure is building on a top Minnesota lawmaker to take action in the wake of a deadly school shooting.
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.
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.
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.
Gas in the Twin Cities can be up to $4.20 a gallon these days, and it's happening as Minnesota is revving up for summer.
According to the letter, enforcement will be done by police and plainclothes officers, with businesses themselves being held accountable for repeat violations.
A Coon Rapids, Minnesota, man pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to unlawfully possessing a machine gun outside a high school graduation ceremony at the University of Minnesota last spring.
Federal authorities have apprehended a teenager in Georgia who is accused of opening fire near a popular University of Iowa nightlife district.
A 38-year-old man and 37-year-old woman are in custody awaiting charges, according to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.
A 16-year-old boy from Bemidji, Minnesota, is accused of shooting three people — including his parents — because they took away his cellphone privileges.
A judge sentenced a man who intentionally started a fire at a northeast Minneapolis duplex, killing his childhood friend, to more than 18 years in prison on Monday.
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.
Hundreds of nurses at North Memorial Health's Maple Grove Hospital have voted to approve an unfair labor practice strike, their union announced Tuesday.
A Texas couple is filing a lawsuit accusing the AI company of guiding their teenage son in using drugs, resulting in a fatal overdose.
If it feels like your health insurance premiums are going up, there's a good chance you're right.
Several hundred nurses at North Memorial Health's Maple Grove Hospital are taking an unfair labor practice strike authorization vote Monday.
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.
Mononymous country music star Hardy is set to kick off the final weekend of the 2026 Minnesota State Fair.
Jake was at the funeral for one of his closest friends when he learned of his parents' deaths, he said.
San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama is playing in Game 5 of the Spurs' Western Conference semifinal series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, after getting ejected early in Game 4 for throwing an elbow.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died at the age of 29, the team announced.
Ross Colton and Parker Kelly each scored their first goals of the postseason in the third period for Colorado as the Avalanche snapped back from a mid-series lull and beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead in the second round of the NHL playoffs.
The durability of Anthony Edwards has proven to be the most valuable trait for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the NBA playoffs this year among his many superpowers on the court.
In her pro debut, Sophia Boman has had six goals, one of them a header.
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.
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.
It's one of the largest musky hatcheries in the entire world. John Lauritsen shows us how the Spooner hatchery keeps fish healthy and anglers happy.
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.
Construction season has arrived, potentially adding several minutes to your daily drive to work. So, how bad is the commute in the Twin Cities? Good Question.
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.
The sky clears out and the wind drops Tuesday night as the metro cools back to the upper-40s, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
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.
Temperatures are expected to climb into the 80s Friday and near 80 Saturday before a soaking rain becomes possible Sunday into Monday, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
Tuesday will be sunny, with highs in the 70s, but plenty of wind.
A red flag warning denoting critical fire weather conditions is out for western Minnesota until 9 p.m., WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
The bird population in North America is on the decline. One of the biggest problems is artificial light emitted from buildings and homes. A Minnesota woman has started a new warning system hoping you can help.
The sky clears out and the wind drops Tuesday night as the metro cools back to the upper-40s, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
The Minnesota House passed a bill with broad bipartisan Tuesday setting guardrails for social media accounts for kids, which is top of mind for parents across the state, and some students who testified during this process that they see the harms first hand in school.
Firefighters believe lithium-ion batteries are responsible for an overnight fire in St. Paul that killed three family pets. Jason Rantala has more on the safety concerns with so many of these batteries in our homes.
As retirement savings targets rise in the Twin Cities, a local financial advisor is pointing to 2 widely used guidelines — the 4% rule and the 25x rule — to help people estimate how much they actually need.