Public safety: Minivan sought in Minneapolis homicide

Minneapolis police are looking for a white minivan in connection with a fatal shooting April 2 in the 1000 block of Humboldt Avenue N. A 911 caller reported at 3:20 p.m. that a victim was lying in the street. Days later, Tommy Bardney, 34, died of a gunshot wound to the head.

The suspect vehicle was a 2005 to 2008 Chevrolet Uplander with a driver and at least one passenger.

Anyone with information related to the minivan or suspects is asked to call Sgt. Tammy Dietrich at 612-692-8477.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000. Callers can remain anonymous.

JOY POWELL

Two suspects are being sought in the shooting death of a Minneapolis man during an early morning invasion of his apartment last month in south Minneapolis, according to authorities.

Frank K. Patterson IV, 48, was shot about 4:30 a.m. on March 4 in his apartment in the 2800 block of Cedar Avenue S. He died from a gunshot to his abdomen about 40 minutes later.

A reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction is being offered by Crime Stoppers.

Paul Walsh

An Eagan man won't be charged in connection with the death of his roommate in a drunken fight on New Year's Day, the Dakota County attorney's office announced Thursday.

Jonathan Lahr, 36, died after being struck by Samuel Petersen, 28, after a day of drinking at bars with a group, the last of which they'd been asked to leave for causing a disturbance. The roommates began arguing after leaving the bar, and Petersen apparently pushed Lahr to the ground.

The argument continued when the pair got home, and, according to Petersen, Lahr hit him and he punched back. With no physical evidence to contradict Petersen's account, prosecutors couldn't prove that Petersen wasn't acting in self-defense, according to a statement by Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom.

Backstrom also noted that Lahr had "minimal external injuries" from the fight with Petersen.

Dylan Belden

An Oakdale man is heading to prison for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars while he was treasurer of an amateur youth hockey organization and then gambling at casinos in the hope of repaying it.

Steven R. Brier, 55, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in St. Paul to eight months in prison for tax evasion, having admitted that he stole about $384,000 from District 2 of what is now Minnesota Hockey, the state's primary organizing body for amateur play.

Brier will begin serving his sentence June 18, with the government recommending that he serve his time in minimum security at the Duluth federal prison camp.

He's also barred during his two years of supervised release from wagering or even entering anywhere there is gambling. That includes not only casinos but businesses where lottery tickets and pulltabs are sold.