Federal agents deploy tear gas after protest, vandalism at Minneapolis hotel
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Protesters who reportedly vandalized a hotel in Minneapolis on Sunday night were confronted by federal agents who deployed tear gas.
Minneapolis police and the state Department of Public Safety say their officers were trying to de-escalate the situation when federal agents arrived without communication and deployed the chemical munitions.
It happened at the Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel on University Avenue, near the University of Minnesota campus. The Associated Press reported there was a “noise demonstration protest” outside the hotel in response to the ongoing surge of federal agents into Minnesota. The protest also happened a day after a federal agent fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
It was not clear whether federal officers were staying at the hotel.
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At some point during the protest, messages including “ICE OUT” were spray-painted on the hotel. AP photos show at least one window was broken and debris was left on University Avenue.
Minneapolis police said an officer was inside the hotel at the time, “working to keep guests and staff safe while providing real-time updates.”
“As the group became disorderly, MPD began formulating a plan to safely move in, de-escalate the situation, and make arrests,” police said in a statement Monday. They also called in state troopers and Department of Natural Resources officers.
As those local and state officers moved to surround the crowd and give dispersal orders, MPD said, “federal law enforcement arrived without notice or communication and deployed chemical munitions. No chemical munitions were deployed by MPD.”
Minneapolis police said they received reports that a federal agent was injured and said the police officer inside the hotel attempted to provide aid. MPD detained two men who were identified and then released pending additional investigation.
“An MPD supervisor communicated with federal supervisors on scene who refused further assistance from MPD. MPD officers then cleared from the scene,” the department said.
A statement from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety mirrored MPD’s account. A message left with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was not immediately returned.
