Contempt of Cop - A Chargeable offense?

Joel Rosenberg was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges by commissioned employees of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department (Minneapolis, MN - his city of residence) on December 8, 2010.

God punishes Minneapolis for arresting Joel Rosenberg?

Joel Rosenberg is a published author of some note in the science fiction/fantasy community (Guardians of the Flame: 1. The Sleeping Dragon (1983), 2. The Sword and the Chain (1984), 3. The Silver Crown (1985), 4. The Heir Apparent (1987), 5. The Warrior Lives (1988), 6. The Road to Ehvenor (1991), 7. The Road Home (1995), 8. Not Exactly the Three Musketeers (1999), 9. Not Quite Scaramouche (2000), 10. Not Really the Prisoner of Zenda (2003), The Warriors (omnibus) (1985), The Guardians of the Flame (omnibus) (1987), The Heroes (omnibus) (1987), Legacy (omnibus) (2004), To Home and Ehvenor (omnibus) (2004); Metsada Mercenary Corps: 1. Ties of Blood and Silver (1984), 2. Emile and the Dutchman (1985), 3. Not for Glory (1988), 4. Hero (1990); D'Shai: D'Shai (1991), Hour of the Octopus (1994); Other: Family Matters (Mystery) (2004), Not for Glory (1989), Paladins (2004), Paladins II: Knight Moves (2008?), Home Front (Mystery) (2003?), King & Kin (Theology, Politics) (1986)

Rosenberg is, by many accounts, also a noted civil rights activist in Minnesota, specializing in firearms rights.

Rosenberg also is a firearms instructor and (from what I can learn at this point) the founder of Twin City Carry (offering courses, taught by Joel and others, on the practical and legal issues of carry in Minnesota), and author of "Everything You Need to Know About (Legally) Carrying a Handgun in Minnesota".

In 2009, Rosenberg wrote a scathing analysis of a series of reports on corruption involving a task force gone awry in the Minnesota Law Enforcement community - asking a number of incredibly uncomfortable questions about that community, including publicly wondering to what degree this corruption infested Minnesota law enforcement generally. He then posted this report to one of his websites, http://www.gangstrikefarce.com/, for public viewing.

In 2010, his wife, one Felicia Herman, was arrested for Domestic Violence against their daughter. Charges were later dropped, and then supposedly re-instated subsequent to Joel's arrest. (best accounts seen thus far here and here, in the sixth paragraph - regrettably, the format is non-quotable). Some question has been raised about the validity of these charges.

Get this: the Minneapolis Police Department arrested Joel Rosenberg’s wife, She Who Must Be Obeyed, on bogus charges. Hennepin County prosecutors dropped all charges once SWMBO’s attorney educated them (with difficulty) about the true facts. Where most Americans would lick their wounds, thank their lucky stars, and stop making Trouble at that point, Rosenberg filed a Freedom of Information Act request for records about the case with the Minneapolis Police Department. - Popehat.com

By all accounts thus far, Mr. Rosenbergs encounters with MPD have been less than jolly and fun for him since his 2009 posting. Oddly enough, he now appears to choose to document (where practical and legal) such encounters.

Such as this one, where he went to pick up (having made an appointment, notified and received permission from the Hennepin Co. Sheriff in accordance with MN law, etc) where...well, see for yourself...



Only a month later, after Rosenberg mocked Palmer, was he suddenly arrested and charged. The Sergeant in question is allegedly under investigation of this incident as an assault. (documentation would be appreciated - I have no reason to disbelieve this, merely a lack of documentation). The description of events and legal analysis can be found here, here, here, more colloquially here,

I have met and trust Oleg Volk, and he's come down on Rosenbergs side. That is, barring new data, enough for me.

To me, based on what I'm seeing at this remove thus far, this stinks of retaliation under color of law by a bunch of badge-happy sorts in deep need of retirement. It could be that I hold an unreasonably idealistic view - that those we entrust with some of our greatest responsibilities, enforcing the law...should actually know and obey the law.

Rosenberg (and quite possibly his wife), under this interpretation, is/are being both persecuted and prosecuted by officers of the long troubled Minneapolis Police Department
for "contempt of cop", "asking inconvenient questions", "failure to plead out", and the dreadful "making us look bad".

At this point, Rosenberg is out on bail as a result of a $10,000 loan to cover the tab with a bail bondsman. His CPL is revoked by judicial order, his business as a firearms trainer is significantly impacted by a similar judicial ban, and he has a sudden need of expensive attorneys to assist him in driving home to the City of Minneapolis that civil rights are for everyone, even authors and firearms instructors.

What can you do? Well....

There's now a fund to help out Rosenberg and his wife with their bevy of new and painful expenses. You can contribute to the Joel Rosenberg Benefit Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank. Buy one of his books (see first paragraph), or buy ALL of them. Take his classes. Do your own research (hopefully better than mine, quality counts! And if each blog post gets incrementally better...), and put up a blog post. Post to Social Media of Choice.

You can express your disappointment (politely) the MPD at:

Minneapolis Police Department 350 South 5th Street, Room 130 Minneapolis, MN 55415-1389 (612) 348-2345 police@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Mayor R.T. Rybak City Hall, Room 331 350 South Fifth Street Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: (612) 673-2100 Fax: (612) 673-2300
City Council
Kevin Reich 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone (612) 673-2201 Fax (612) 673-3940 E-mail Kevin.Reich@ci.minneapolis.mn.us	Cam Gordon 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone (612) 673-2202 Cell (612) 296-0579 Fax (612) 673-3940 E-mail Cam.Gordon@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Diane Hofstede 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone (612) 673-2203 Fax (612) 673-3940 E-mailDiane.Hofstede@ci.minneapolis.mn.us	Barbara Johnson Council President 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone (612) 673-2204 Fax (612) 673-3940 E-mail Contact Form
Don Samuels 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone(612) 673-2205 Fax(612) 673-3940 E-mailDon.Samuels@ci.minneapolis.us	Robert Lilligren Council Vice President 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone(612) 673-2206 Fax(612) 673-3940 E-mailRobert.Lilligren@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Lisa Goodman 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone(612) 673-2207 Fax(612) 673-3940 E-mail Lisa Goodman's Email Form	Elizabeth Glidden 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone(612) 673-2208 Fax(612) 673-3940 E-mailElizabeth.Glidden@ci.minneapolis.mn.u
Gary Schiff 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone(612) 673-2209 Fax(612) 673-3940 E-mailContact Form	Meg Tuthill 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone(612) 673-2210 Fax(612) 673-3940 E-mailMeg.Tuthill@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
John Quincy 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone(612) 673-2211 Fax(612) 673-3940 E-mail John.Quincy@ci.minneapolis.mn.us	Sandy Colvin Roy 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone(612) 673-2212 Fax(612) 673-3940 E-mail: E-Form
Betsy Hodges 350 S 5th Street City Hall, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone(612) 673-2213 Fax(612) 673-3940 E-mail Ward 13 Email Form