Metro Gang Strike Force claims total $840K

A court-appointed overseer of claims against the defunct Metro Gang Strike Force has decided that about 100 people had legitimate claims against the police unit.

The awards are among more than 200 claims made against the Strike Force. Special Master Mark Gehan said roughly $840,000 in claims should be paid out in the case, filed three years ago.

Minneapolis attorney Jason Johnston represented the claimants, who were part of a class-action lawsuit against the strike force.

"I think it definitely validates what so many claimants have been trying to say for some time now, that there was this group of officers who were taking their property, who were abusing their rights, who were taking things in their own hands," he said. "And now at this point, finally a special master, who filed a document in the United States District Court, has confirmed what they've been saying all along. That they were wronged."

The strike force was broken up after a state investigation substantiated allegations of improper conduct and shoddy investigative work by the unit. Authorities declined to file any criminal charges against officers.