WC Minnesota News

At least one Republican state Senator said the riots following the death of George Floyd, who was allegedly killed by the police department back in May, could have been preventable.

On his Facebook page, Sen. Torrey Westrom (R-District 12) shared a report from the local Fox affiliate which detailed the actions by the police department as the third precinct was taken over by protesters in Minneapolis three nights after the death of Floyd.

"Officers testifying for the Senate investigation hearings said that the protests were peaceful during the day, but as night fell they were infiltrated by bad actors hiding behind regular citizens,’’ Westrom wrote on his Facebook page. "They also said that action earlier in the week could have stopped the destruction and mayhem. We must hold state leaders accountable for their inaction."

In the Fox 9 report, their investigative team went through the Minneapolis Police radio transmissions on May 28, which was the night the precinct was taken over by protesters. 

Fox 9 spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, who said the decision to evacuate the precinct was painful but not difficult in the end.

"Death to one of our officers or the general public, that was not a consequence I could have on my watch," Frey said.