Bill to Ban No-Knock Warrants to get Floor Vote in MN House

WINONA, Minn. (KWNO)-Legislation that would prohibit the use of no-knock warrants in Minnesota is headed for a floor vote in the state House.

The bill was changed from allowing the warrant’s use in extreme situations to being banned entirely by the House Judiciary Committee. The bill was introduced following the fatal Minneapolis Police shooting of Amir Locke in Feb., who was killed while officers executed a no-knock warrant.

During an interview on KWNO’s In the Know Thursday, Winona DFL Rep. Gene Pelowski said he plans on voting against the bill.

“The bill that we see here is another one of the legislature’s knee-jerk reactions to an incident and the indecent was terrible but it was one incident,” Pelowski said. “I don’t think one incident warrants us to have to change the law. The law enforcement system and the judicial system can do it.”

Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller of Winona says Minneapolis is the only city he’s aware of that uses the warrants.

“Locally it’s not an issue for us. It seems to be an issue in Minneapolis and the City of Minneapolis has addressed that,” Miller said during an interview on KWNO’s In the Know Thursday. “If further steps need to be taken we’re certainly open to having discussions with stakeholders and others on what those steps may be.”

Last week Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey proposed a prohibition on the use of no-knock warrants.