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As parks board moves to allow toplessness, police use drones to catch nude beach goers

Police use drones to catch nude beach goers
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(WCCO) Look up! 

The Golden Valley Police Department was flying a drone overhead earlier this week to catch beach goers going topless or nude at Twin Lake, just west of Theodore Wirth Park. Wirth Park is part of the Minneapolis parks system but is partly in Golden Valley, and it has an unwritten understanding that clothing is optional. 


“It’s really well known for being a safe place to just be comfortable,” Elsie Olin told WCCO-TV.

But not everyone was loving it. 

“It had reached the point where it was time for people to be held accountable for their actions,” Golden Valley Police Det. Sgt. Randy Mahlen said, adding police have received more than a dozen complaints about nudity, alcohol or drugs at the beach. Over the past few weeks, he said officers gave warnings. Numerous people caught by the drones, however, were ticketed.

That enforcement effort included seven officers from Golden Valley and Minneapolis Parks Police.

A beach goer told Kare-11 TV that revelers noticed the drone, wondered what it was about and roughly 10 minutes later police appeared, writing tickets.

See video of the incident here.

we were having a pleasant day at the beach until Golden Valley Police Dept / Minneapolis Police Department decided to come harass us for “illegal activity seen on a drone” they wouldn’t give us information on where to see the drone footage or read about the alleged assault they were called down for beyond “contact the golden valley police department” the woman cop came very close to pushing at least two people unprovoked but caught herself the last time i was profiled at the beach (hidden) i was the only black person (or one of very few) and also one of very few to get a ticket, after i watched a group of white purple only get a warning, and no one stood up in my defense. yesterday, however, a good amount of the beachgoers had their phones out, put themselves between the cops and us, immediately came to our defense, are collecting footage and information to fight it. several also offered to help pay the ticket. the solidarity was amazing i’ve never felt so taken care of in such a bullshit and stressful situation especially shout out to @demagorg_ who immediately spoke up and fought for us. a real one. i love you the most --

A post shared by krissy --✨ (@kouturexkupcake) on Jul 11, 2020 at 5:28pm PDT

While many expressed discomfort about being put on video -- in stages of undress -- without their consent, police said the drone surveillance is legal. The beach is public, with no expectation of privacy.

Meanwhile, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation board is moving ahead with a measure to repeal a ban on toplessness.

A committee of the city’s Park Board approved a measure Wednesday night to remove a ban on the display of "female breasts" in public. It's the first step to allow women to go topless at the city’s parks.

Apparently the @MinneapolisPD have nothing better to do with their time than fly drones to spy on people sun bathing nude or topless at a hidden and secluded beach. Feels like there are more pressing issues in the world -------- ♂️

— Deuce (@DeuceRadio) July 16, 2020