Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara admitting he and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty have plenty of philosophical differences when it comes to combating juvenile crime.
It's been a bit of 'he said, she said' this week, but Chief O'Hara tells WCCO's Chad Hartman that Moriarty's decisions not to charge recent juvenile car theft cases for lack of evidence is baffling to him.
"You could ask any of these hundreds, if not thousands, of people in this town that have had their Hyundai or Kia stolen, what it looks like when they get it back," says O'Hara. "So, if kids are riding around in a stolen car where the ignition cylinder is ripped off, and where there's supposed to be a key, there's either a USB or a screwdriver. I think there's sufficient evidence to say that they knew the car was stolen."
O'Hara says despite what Moriarty has said, he has in fact spoken with her since December, the MPD and her office work closely together every day, and that things are moving in the right direction. Moriarty told WCCO's Blois Olson on Thursday that her texts and calls to O'Hara haven't been returned.
"There has been some communication since December," O'Hara says. "So that's what I'm saying to you. But what I'm also saying to you is all levels of both the police department and the County Attorney's office are in constant communication."
O'Hara says he and Moriarty have philosophical differences about the evidence necessary to charge juveniles in a recent rash of carjackings, but he says both of their departments are on the same page.
O'Hara also said that he thinks this should be a private discussion but in his words, it "needs to be in public." He added this is the most pressing issue in the city and he believes Moriarty understands that.
Thursday on WCCO Radio, Moriarty said her office hasn't been able to charge many of the juveniles involved in recent violent carjackings because Minneapolis police haven't provided enough evidence.