Group fills Hennepin County Attorney's office to demand charges in Jamar Clark's death

Jamar Clark supporters rally
Jamar Clark supporters rallied in District Attorney Mike Freeman's office for a "Freeman Friday," at the Hennepin County Government Center on Friday.
Elizabeth Flores | Star Tribune via AP

A group of protesters urged Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman Friday to prosecute police officers who were involved in the fatal shooting of Jamar Clark last November.

Attorney Lolita Ulloa met the more than 30 protesters from the Twin Cities Coalition 4 Justice 4 Jamar Clark in the lobby of the county attorney's office. She told the protesters that Freeman wasn't there, but that he is "putting all of his efforts into reviewing" Clark's case.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension announced Friday that it concluded its investigation into the shooting that sparked weeks of protests last year.

The BCA turned its findings over to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for review.

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"What will happen after Mike [Freeman] reviews the file is up to Mike and the office," Ulloa told the group.

Aryn Seymour
Aryn Seymour, 3, joined her mother Alexandria Lane and about 40 others for a "Freeman Friday," at the Hennepin County Government Center on Friday.
Elizabeth Flores | Star Tribune via AP

"We feel for the family," she said. "There's a young black man that's dead and we understand that completely."

Protesters also demanded that Freeman not send the case to a grand jury.

"Police officers should be held accountable for their actions," said Loretta VanPelt.

An MPR News investigation found of 20 grand juries called to examine fatal shootings by Minneapolis police officers since 2000, not one has returned an indictment.

"We're just asking that the Hennepin County Attorney, who prosecutes lots of folks in my neighborhood every day without grand juries, to prosecute the case," said Mel Reeves, one of the organizers of the protest. "I don't why it is so hard for Freeman to carry it out."

The protesters said they will come to Freeman's office every Friday to demand that he should prosecute the two officers.