Charges Dropped Against 323 Arrested on Bridges During RNC

The St. Paul city attorney on Friday announced that charges will be dropped against the 323 people arrested on the Cedar Street Bridge and Marion Street Bridge on the last day of the Republican National Convention.

An estimated 672 cases were submitted to City Attorney John Choi by the St. Paul Police Department. Each case was reviewed by the city attorney's office, with prosecutors and staff reviewing police report, photos and video of the incidents.

The city processed RNC cases based on seriousness and their chronological order, noting that Sept. 1, the first day of the convention, was the day the most serious crimes occurred.

Sept. 4 cases won't be prosecuted

Over the past six weeks, the city attorney's office reviewed cases from Sept. 4 -- the last day of the convention.

The city decided not to prosecute the 323 people arrested for unlawful assembly at the Cedar Street Bridge and the Marion Street Bridge. The city attorney's office is sending letters about the decision to those people.

20 Sept. 4 cases still investigated

The city said roughly 20 cases from Sept. 4 will continue to be investigated. Some of those individuals were arrested multiple times during the RNC, for crimes including: false information to police, fleeing on foot, obstructing legal process and disorderly conduct.

4 people re-charged

The city attorney also announced the re-charging of four people who are alleged to have committed gross misdemeanor crimes on Sept. 1. Two of the previously dismissed cases will be re-charged at the felony level.

Recap of 672 RNC-related cases
 

• 52 cases have been resolved by either a guilty plea or payment of a fee as part of a continuance for dismissal.
   
• 12 cases are in active warrant because the defendant failed to appear for his/her scheduled court date.
   
• 40 cases have been formally charged and are currently active in the court system (including two petty misdemeanors that were forwarded to the traffic violations bureau for resolution).
   
• 67 cases are currently under investigation and are being reviewed by the city attorney for possible charges.
   
• 11 cases are pending final resolution with the traffic violations bureau.
   
• 442 cases have been declined or dismissed after prosecution review by the city attorney or by the court.
   
• 48 cases have been dismissed for miscellaneous reasons because of the defendant’s status, including 39 cases that were dismissed through the journalist policy announced by Mayor Chris Coleman on Sept. 19.