Police do NOT disperse BLM protesters on fifth night of unrest at Brooklyn Center despite curfew


A curfew in the roiling Minnesota city of Brooklyn Center was not enforced on Thursday, and the fifth night of protest concluded quietly – despite the officer who sparked the outpouring of anger making her first appearance at court.

Kimberly Potter, 48, was in court on Thursday charged with second-degree manslaughter. The white police officer shot and killed a black man, Daunte Wright, 20, on Sunday at a traffic stop. The chief of police claimed it was an accident and she meant to fire her Taser.

Protests outside Brooklyn Center Police Department from Sunday night through Wednesday were tense, with riot police repeatedly firing tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets into the furious crowd, which flung fireworks and water bottles at the police.

On Thursday Mike Elliott, the mayor of Brooklyn Center, announced that a 10pm curfew would go into place, and remain in effect until 6am.

Protesters were outside Brooklyn Center Police Department for the fifth night on Thursday

Protesters were outside Brooklyn Center Police Department for the fifth night on Thursday

A protester is seen holding up a sign outside Brooklyn Center Police Department on Thursday

A protester is seen holding up a sign outside Brooklyn Center Police Department on Thursday

The message 'Justice for Daunte' was beamed onto a barricade outside the police department

The message ‘Justice for Daunte’ was beamed onto a barricade outside the police department

The police headquarters have been the scene of protests every night since Sunday

The police headquarters have been the scene of protests every night since Sunday

Demonstrators hang umbrellas on the fence outside Brooklyn Center police HQ on Thursday

Demonstrators hang umbrellas on the fence outside Brooklyn Center police HQ on Thursday

Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed on Sunday when he was pulled over by police

Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed on Sunday when he was pulled over by police

Around 1,000 people were out protesting, but the curfew was not enforced and they went home by their own volition.

At 11:30pm, only a few people still lingered, the Star Tribune reported.  

Earlier on Thursday Potter, the 26-year veteran officer who ‘accidentally’ shot Wright, was seen for the first time since she was released from jail on $100,000 bond.

In exclusive photos taken by DailyMail.com, the former officer – who resigned on Tuesday – appeared tired and strained as she was spotted being driven away from her lawyer Earl Gray’s office in St Paul, Minnesota by husband Jeffrey, 54.

Former Brooklyn Center Police officer Kimberley Potter, 48, was seen on Thursday for the first time since she was released from Hennepin County Jail on $100,000 bond

Former Brooklyn Center Police officer Kimberley Potter, 48, was seen on Thursday for the first time since she was released from Hennepin County Jail on $100,000 bond

The mother-of-two appeared strained as she left her lawyer's office in St Paul, Minnesota, with her husband Jeff, following her first court hearing at Hennepin County District Court

The mother-of-two appeared strained as she left her lawyer’s office in St Paul, Minnesota, with her husband Jeff, following her first court hearing at Hennepin County District Court 

Potter, a 26-year veteran of the force, is charged with second-degree manslaughter after 'accidentally' shooting 20-year-old black man Daunte Wright

Potter was a 26-year veteran of the police force

Potter, a 26-year veteran of the force, is charged with second-degree manslaughter after ‘accidentally’ shooting 20-year-old black man Daunte Wright

Potter is seen making her first courtroom appearance, via Zoom, on Thursday

Potter is seen making her first courtroom appearance, via Zoom, on Thursday

Potter was at the legal office in downtown St Paul for her first court appearance at Hennepin County District Court after being charged a day earlier with second-degree manslaughter over Wright’s death.

The 10-minute hearing took place over Zoom with Potter only speaking to confirm her name and address. 

She did not enter a plea to the charge, which carries a maximum 10-year sentence.  

Earlier, Gray had filed a motion to stop the proceedings, which saw disheveled Potter seated at a table wearing a plaid shirt, from being broadcast or livestreamed.

The court agreed with his motion and he waived the right to have the charges against his client read out.

Along with Potter, Gray also represents former police officer Thomas Lane, who is facing charges of aiding and abetting murder in the George Floyd case.

Potter is believed to be staying at an address in East St Paul and has been keeping a low profile there since fleeing her Champlin home on Monday night.

The married mother-of-two left her home in Minneapolis Monday with her 54-year-old husband Jeffrey and their sons Sam and Nick after her address was posted on social media

The married mother-of-two left her home in Minneapolis Monday with her 54-year-old husband Jeffrey and their sons Sam and Nick after her address was posted on social media

She has been joined by her two sons Nicholas and Samuel and was driven to and from today’s brief hearing by husband – himself a former police officer.

Her five-bedroom home remains barricaded and the quiet suburban street it sits in closed off.   

The married mother-of-two was taken into custody around 11.30am local time on Wednesday by Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) agents in St. Paul and booked into Hennepin County jail just after midday. 

Leave a Reply