The Hennepin County attorney's office has declined to file any charges. From a February 13th story in the StarTribune:
After reviewing all of the facts from the police investigation, said a statement from the county attorney's office regarding driver Jeffrey P. Rice, prosecutors determined that the actions Mr. Rice took did not reflect intent or actions that constitute a crime that could be charged.
Now the police are turning to the City to ask that charges be brought against the driver.
Police spokesman John Elder said Thursday afternoon that his department will take the case to city prosecutors for their review and possible charging.
Can someone please explain to me how purposely driving a car into a crowd of pedestrians wouldn't reflect intent or actions that constitute a crime? I saw the overhead extended video of the incident when it happened. This was no accident. This is no case of "He said." "She said." The driver had to back up, reposition his vehicle,
maneuver around another car before he could drive into that crowd, striking the protester. This demonstrates someone who's pretty damned committed to a specific course of action. I thought that action (driving into a crowd of pedestrians) was illegal.
There are numerous attorneys active on this site. Please tell me how this doesn't rise to the level of a chargeable offense?
Once again the comments on the story are leaving me more than a little disappointed with some of my fellow Minnesotans.