Officials Say Cops Slashed Tires to Prevent Attacks

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Monday confirmed law enforcement slashed tires on several parked cars during protests about the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd, but claimed the tires were cut to keep the vehicles from being used as weapons. 

"While we can't speak for other law enforcement agencies and their tactics, there were instances when State Patrol troopers strategically deflated tires to keep vehicles from being used in attacks, and so we could tow the vehicles later for collection of evidence if necessary,” Department of Public Safety spokesman Bruce Gordon confirmed to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Anoka County Sheriff's Lt. Andy Knotz also confirmed that his deputies followed orders from the state-led Multi-agency Command Center to cut trees. 

Gordon said the State Patrol's officers slashed tires "strategically" preventing people from “driving dangerously at high speeds in and around protesters and law enforcement,” as well as on cars “that contained items used to cause harm during violent protests,” including rocks, concrete, and sticks. 

Gordon said the act wasn't a "typical tactic," but the vehicles "were being used as dangerous weapons" and hindered officers' ability to clear areas and keep them safe. 

The statement comes after Mother Jones reported about video and photos of officers cutting tires in a K-Mart parking lot on May 30 and again on a highway overpass on May 31. 

Knotz told the Star-Tribune that the cars could not have been towed because the locations were too crowded.

Spokespeople from the National Guard, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office said their department's officers were not involved. 

Star Tribune reporter Chris Serres was covering protests on May 30 and returned to the K-Mart lot at around 1 a.m, when he discovered his tires were flattened. Further, television and web video producer Andrew Kimmel said tires on his rental car, along with tires on "every car in this parking lot” had been slashed.

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