MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Police say a man obstructing the legal process was Tasered and arrested on a popular downtown Minneapolis block Monday afternoon.
Police say the man, 54-year-old Terrance Jackson, was interfering with pedestrian traffic and when he was asked to move several times, he didn’t. Jackson allegedly resisted arrest and police had no choice but to subdue and handcuff him.
A witness caught the incident on tape near 7th Street and Nicollet Avenue Monday afternoon. Now, some who use metro transit say officers went too far, but the police say they had no choice.
Police call the location the busiest corner in downtown Minneapolis. Because of the number of people who pass through this corner every day, police are on alert.
Charles Cooper witnessed the scuffle.
“I do believe they stepped over the line a little bit,” Cooper said.
Cooper said Jackson had his hands up, but was raising his voice, which he thinks made officers react.
“I feel he didn’t understand what was really going on,” Cooper said.
Cooper thinks Jackson may not have known he wasn’t following the rules set up to bring order at that corner.
The corner is the only one in downtown Minneapolis with a green line separating the sidewalk. One side is used as a walkway, the other for people waiting on the bus.
Metro Transit police chief John Harrington says the signage is to control one of the busiest corners in downtown.
“We’ve had concerns voiced by the business community by elected officials by transit customers about the congestion on the corner and as a consequence we have tried to alleviate the congestion,” said Chief John Harrington.
Harrington stands behind the actions of his officers, saying they were following directions that have been set forth to try and take control of the downtown area.
“This was a pretty straight up encounter. From what I can tell, the officers were following procedure,” Harrington said.
Harrington says his officers will continue to walk the beat in this area and other congested areas like 9th Street and Hennepin Avenue to make sure there are no problems for businesses and people who patronize them.
Jackson was taken to the hospital and is now in the Hennepin County jail.
