Legal Team for Family of Amir Locke Provides Update on Investigation Into Police Killing of Amir Locke

Nationally renowned civil rights attorneys Ben Crump, Jeff Storms, and Antonio Romanucci have released the following statement to update the public on important information learned about Minneapolis Police Officer Mark Hanneman, who shot and killed Amir Locke on February 2, 2022:. 

“We’ve learned that at least until last year, Officer Hanneman was a Minneapolis Field Training Officer (FTO), like both former officers Derek Chauvin and Kim Potter. This finding is also consistent with media reports that, under the current MPD administration, the MPD continues to demonstrate a pattern of promoting officers with serious disciplinary histories. The information about Officer Hanneman serving as an FTO appears to be the latest example of how bad practices continue to be passed down to new officers in departments like Minneapolis, resulting in constitutional violations throughout the community and, at times, resulting in unnecessary and needless death.

“We have also discovered that in July 2021, criminal charges were dismissed against an individual because Officer Hanneman violated that individual’s constitutional rights to be free from search and seizure. That illegal search and seizure also occurred during an MPD SWAT team warrant execution and was executed by Hanneman on someone who, like Amir Locke, was NOT the subject of the search warrant.  The opinion dismissing the case reflects that Hanneman did not understand written MPD policy.  The opinion also reflects that MPD SWAT had a custom and practice of engaging in unconstitutionally excessive searches and seizures of non-subjects of warrants when conducting SWAT team raids. 

“Finally, our investigation also revealed that a judgment was entered against Officer Hanneman in a federal civil rights action in 2015 for engaging in an illegal search and seizure. 

“While our investigation is in the very early stages, we believe these facts are important for the public to be aware of as we continue to analyze the many long-standing systemic failures of the MPD and the actions of the responsible parties who caused Amir Locke’s death.

ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.

About Newmark Storms Dworak LLC 

Newmark Storms Dworak LLC is one of Minnesota’s premier boutique law firms. The Minneapolis firm regularly handles high-profile civil rights, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse claims. For more information, visit www.newmarkstorms.com.

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death. Founded in 1998, we have decades of history securing verdicts and settlements for our clients - many for millions of dollars and others record-setting awards.  Our expertise ranges from medical malpractice and sexual abuse cases involving individual or institutional negligence to civil rights, police misconduct and workers compensation, making Romanucci & Blandin a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.