CRB sends one investigation back to OPA for more work; accepts second OPA report

At its October meeting the Community Review Board reviewed multiple case reports and took separate formal actions on two contested investigations.

Staff presented three administrative closures that the board approved on consent; two were closed under Rule 16 because of pending litigation and one closed because documents could not be obtained for a matter involving a child. The case IDs read aloud were CC2024-027, CC2024-3501 and CC25-8877; the board voted to accept the administrative closures.

The board then reviewed CC2024-032, a complaint filed March 25, 2024, by complainant Alante Carney alleging an MNPD officer, identified in the record as Officer Samuel Corkins Jr., drove at high speed near a downtown crosswalk, nearly struck pedestrians and yelled profanity and threats. Staff summarized the OPA (Office of Professional Accountability) findings that the OPA did not sustain the conduct-unbecoming allegation because the investigator concluded there was not enough evidence; OPA identified the officer as assigned to Vehicle 877 A H A H and the officer denied making threats.

Board staff said the CRB review found the OPA investigation "unsatisfactory" for procedural reasons: the initial investigator transcribed the vehicle number incorrectly and did not document follow-up to interview a named witness. The board discussed whether to forward concerns to the OPA supervisor or send the report to the chief and mayor. Board member Bowman Brown urged supervisory review of investigative thoroughness.

Board member motioned and the board voted to keep CC2024-032 open and return it for further investigation, specifically asking the department to use the AVL/Trackstar system to report precise speed at the time and to interview the witness named by the complainant. The motion passed. Later in the meeting staff reported Trackstar data showed the officer's highest recorded speed at the relevant time was about 19 miles per hour.

The board next reviewed CC2024-037, in which complainant Brandon Carpenter alleged a coworker's statements at a workplace prompted a supervisor to contact MNPD and that an in-person officer response would occur within 72 hours, which the complainant said was insufficient. OPA concluded the officer was exonerated and the CRB found the OPA investigation satisfactory, thorough and complete. The board voted to accept the OPA report and forward it to the chief and mayor. Bowman Brown noted the officer had prior discipline around 2019 and said that history merited further review.

Actions recorded in the meeting included the consent approval of three administrative closures, a successful motion to return CC2024-032 for more investigation, and acceptance of the OPA report for CC2024-037.