That response is far from adequate. It fails to explain away why it took months to do something about Moturi’s multiple requests for help. Repeatedly, he told the MPD about terrorist threats from Sawchak, including pointing and brandishing weapons. Since the Moturis purchased their home in September 2023, the couple contacted police multiple times to report Sawchak for a menu of dangerous behaviors. Their complaints included charges of vandalism, property destruction, harassment and threats of physical harm while spewing racist slurs, according to court records.
Moturi is Black; Sawchak is white.
Legitimate pushback over the initial MPD response, including criticism from some council members, prompted O’Hara to issue an apology. “We failed this victim 100%,” O’Hara told reporters. “And to that victim, I say I am sorry that this happened to you.” Both O’Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey said Monday that a “post-incident review” would be conducted.
Late last week, five City Council members wrote to Frey and O’Hara expressing their concerns about “[MPD’s] failure to protect a Minneapolis resident from a clear, persistent and amply reported threat posed by his neighbor.” Some council members and community activists raised whether race played a part in the department’s initial response.
Council Member Jeremiah Ellison said the MPD seems to be able to de-escalate situations with white suspects, but when it’s Black suspects, “it’s a killing.”
“Here we have someone who did shoot someone, and he’s sitting in his home, and I don’t find it acceptable,” he said. “If the department feels like that’s not a fair characterization, you’ve got to go out and you’ve got to prove that to the community. You’ve got to prove that to us.”
