Judge grants TRO barring encampments on Sabri Minneapolis properties
A Hennepin County judge granted a temporary restraining order barring homeless encampments on any Minneapolis properties owned by Hamoudi Sabri, following the city’s lawsuit over alleged public nuisance conditions at his East Lake Street and 28th Avenue South lot and a mass shooting there that injured seven. The ruling followed failed talks over the duration of restrictions (the city sought 90 days; Sabri 30) and came amid heightened police patrols and new fencing; Mayor Jacob Frey called it the right call, while Sabri said he is weighing next legal steps and criticized the city’s handling of homelessness. The city says it spent about $50,000 clearing the site and plans to seek reimbursement, after earlier issuing roughly $15,000 in citations and reporting that crews were initially blocked from cleanup.
📰 Sources (6)
- A judge granted a temporary restraining order on Tuesday barring homeless encampments on any Minneapolis properties owned by Hamoudi Sabri.
- Mayor Jacob Frey issued a statement calling the TRO 'the right call' and saying it enables the city to close encampments once services and shelter are offered.
- Hamoudi Sabri responded that he is weighing next legal steps and criticized the city for alleged mismanagement of homelessness funds.
- Negotiations stalled over the duration of restrictions: the city sought 90 days while Sabri proposed 30.
- The ruling follows a Sept. 16 mass shooting near 28th Ave S. and E. Lake St. that injured seven, reinforcing the city’s public-safety rationale.
- Negotiations between Minneapolis and property owner Hamoudi Sabri collapsed on Monday.
- Dispute centered on timeline: the city sought up to 90 days (into December); Sabri would agree to only 30 days.
- Judge has ordered Sabri to keep the site clean pending a ruling; the lot is currently cleared.
- With talks ended, the case is back in the judge’s hands and a ruling could come at any time.
- A Hennepin County judge postponed deciding on the City of Minneapolis’ temporary restraining order request until Monday.
- Property owner Hamoudi Sabri agreed not to reopen the encampment or establish another until the matter is resolved; the judge instructed both sides to seek an agreement.
- Senior Assistant City Attorney Sharda Enslin described the situation as 'dire' and argued a court order is needed to prevent repeated re-formation of the encampment.
- The city estimates Tuesday’s cleanup cost about $50,000 and plans to ask the court to require Sabri to reimburse that amount.
- Sabri alleged city workers discarded a woman’s daughter’s ashes during the cleanup and criticized the lack of a plan for displaced people.
- Context noted that a Monday night shooting at the encampment injured seven people, four critically, which police linked to a narcotics dispute.
- The city has placed fencing around the Lake Street area tied to the encampment site as part of its safety response.
- MPD has heightened patrols in and around the encampment area following the mass shooting there.
- Indicates active, on-the-ground control measures while the lawsuit and TRO process proceed.
- A court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17 on a temporary restraining order related to the encampment.
- Mayor Frey said the encampment remains under police control until a TRO can be granted.
- City crews began clearing the encampment hours after the shooting.
- Frey’s on-record stance: “We’ll see you in court,” signaling continued litigation with owner Hamoudi Sabri.