Tip Leads to Most Wanted Arrest, VP Joe Biden & Warrant Sweep: Sheriff's Newsletter

Editor's Note: The following is the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office latest newsletter.

Citizen Tip Leads To Most Wanted Arrest

Just five days after the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office launched new ways for people to provide crime tips, a citizen has provided tip information that led to the arrest of a fugitive on the county’s Top Ten Most Wanted List. 

On December 18, Julian Alcaide Lopez (01/09/75) was arrested by the Minnesota Fugitive Task Force which consists of personnel from the Sheriff’s Office, Minneapolis Police, and the FBI.  Lopez was arrested for felony criminal sexual conduct (3rd degree) after a tipster provided information to the Sheriff’s Office.

Lopez is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Bloomington in 2010. He was arrested in Scott County and he’s currently being held in the Hennepin County jail on $100,000 bail.  Lopez has been featured on the Hennepin County Most Wanted List for two years. 

Sheriff Stanek is urging that more tipsters provide information now that there are new, convenient ways to do so anonymously. Tipsters may reach the Sheriff’s Office by text, cell phone apps, or an online form.

To learn about sending tips, click on our Most Wanted information at www.hennepinsheriff.org.

Hennepin County Sheriff Meets With Vice President Biden

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek and several law enforcement leaders met with Vice President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss gun violence in the aftermath of the Connecticut school tragedy. 

The meeting included senior officials from President Obama’s administration as well as members of the President’s cabinet. The law enforcement leaders who attended – all represent national organizations. Sheriff Stanek is the president of the Major County Sheriffs’ Association (MCSA) and its members are sheriffs from large counties throughout the U.S.  Members of the MCSA represent 100 million Americans.

Other law enforcement leaders at the meeting represented national groups including the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriffs’ Association. The discussions covered a wide range of topics such as reducing gun violence nationally, assault weapons, closing gun show loopholes, fighting illegal firearms, and additional resources to enforce existing firearms laws.

Sheriff Stanek raised the issue of untreated mental illness with the Vice President.

Sheriff Stanek advocated for improved law enforcement access to mental health records for background checks, for responding to 911 calls and for detention professionals. Several weeks ago, he launched a new effort on this issue as it relates to untreated mental illness and his concern for the mentally ill housed in the Hennepin County jail.

Minneapolis Man Charged With Three Felonies During Warrant Search

A Minneapolis man has been charged with three felonies after the Southwest Hennepin Drug Task Force conducted an investigation and located illegal narcotics and a firearm in his home.

On December 20, 2012, investigators with the Southwest Hennepin Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the residence in the 2000 block of Pleasant Avenue South in Minneapolis.

While executing the search warrant at the home, investigators located approximately three pounds of heroin, one pound of methamphetamine, cocaine, and one handgun.

The Southwest Hennepin Drug Task Force consists of officers and deputies from the following agencies: the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Eden Prairie Police Department, Hopkins Police Department, Edina Police Department, Minnetonka Police Department, and the St. Louis Park Police Department.

December Warrant Sweep

On December 18, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office began a warrant sweep to clear active warrants and make arrests.

The Sheriff’s Office worked in partnership with 16 law enforcement agencies to arrest people who are wanted for a range of offenses – from felonies to misdemeanors. The sweep will focus on active warrants related to violent crime, domestic violence, and DWIs.

The goal of the warrant sweep is to improve public safety.  People who are wanted on active warrants are more likely to reoffend. The sweep is being conducted in partnership with local police departments throughout Hennepin County. A warrant sweep is one method to pursue people with active warrants. In addition, the Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement agencies pursue and arrest wanted individuals everyday.