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MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Hennepin County Declines Felony Charges Following Jake Lang City Hall Confrontation
County prosecutors said the available evidence would not establish a felony offense beyond a reasonable doubt, but possible misdemeanor charges remain under review.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (August 26, 2026) The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has declined to file felony charges arising from a confrontation involving political activist Jake Lang outside Minneapolis City Hall.
The incident occurred around noon Saturday, August 22, during a demonstration and counterdemonstration.
Minneapolis police said Lang and two other people arrived in two vehicles and drove a truck onto the sidewalk toward a group of counterdemonstrators. A confrontation followed, and people on both sides reportedly used chemical irritants.
Interim Minneapolis Police Chief Bill Peterson said three officers were injured. One officer was taken to a hospital and later released. None of the injuries was considered serious.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced its decision Tuesday. Prosecutors cited evidence of previous communication and logistical coordination between the Minneapolis Police Department and Lang’s security detail.
County Attorney Mary Moriarty characterized the conduct surrounding the confrontation as unacceptable but said prosecutors must determine whether admissible evidence can prove every element of a felony beyond a reasonable doubt.
One potential allegation involved an officer who was struck by the truck while assisting a community member who had fallen. Prosecutors said the officer believed the driver may not have seen the person on the ground and did not believe the driver intentionally struck him.
Intent would be a necessary element of the potential felony assault charge under consideration.
The decision does not necessarily end the case. The Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office may consider gross-misdemeanor or misdemeanor charges if police submit the matter for municipal prosecution.
The county’s decision should therefore be understood as a refusal to pursue felony charges based on the currently available evidence, not a finding that no unlawful conduct occurred.
No criminal allegation discussed in the investigation has been proven in court.
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