Minneapolis: Ali charges in death of bicyclist explained

 

OFFICE OF THE HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY
MICHAEL O. FREEMAN  

COUNTY ATTORNEY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ali charges in death of bicyclist explained 

Abdirahman Abdi Ali of Minneapolis was charged on July 9 with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, including leaving the scene of an accident, after striking and killing a young woman riding her bicycle, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced.

The following day Ali, 25, made his first court appearance and bail was set at $50,000 without any conditions and only $10,000 if he followed certain conditions including no violations of his driver’s license and not using drugs or alcohol. He posted the $10,000 bond and was released on July 11. His next court appearance is Aug. 15.

“We have had a number of these car-bicycle and car-pedestrian cases over the past two years and we have treated them pretty much the same,” Freeman said. “It’s important that drivers understand that they must obey the traffic laws and if they do strike someone with their car or truck, they absolutely must stop and help the victim.”

According to the criminal complaint filed by the county attorney’s office, the victim, Jessica Hanson, was riding her bicycle after dark on July 3. She was at the intersection of Pleasant Avenue South and West 28^th Street when witnesses reported that a car that was speeding and did not have its lights on failed to stop at the intersection and collided with Hanson.

Ali did not stop to help her but sped away, the criminal complaint states. Hanson was seriously injured and died at the Hennepin County Medical Center two days later.

A witness to the accident gave police the license plate number to the car. Police went to the address registered for the car and his sister acknowledged they had a blue Toyota Camry with that license number and her brother currently was using it, according to the criminal complaint.

At 7:30 p.m. on July 5, Ali called police and said he would turn himself in. He told police he had hit someone on Pleasant Avenue, but he didn’t know what or who because someone was shooting at him and he kept going, the complaint states.

Unless Ali pleads guilty, a court date will be set, probably for early next year, and a jury will decide whether he is guilty or innocent of the charges.

Contact:
Chuck Laszewski
Email: Chuck.Laszewski@co.hennepin.mn.us