WINONA, Minn. — All but one charge that police lodged against a Winona man after an all-hands-on-deck raid in May were dropped. The judge let stand a single disorderly conduct. Henry Clay Minter Lamkin III had leaded pleaded guilty to the count and was fined $350. Lamkin then contacted news media, which had carried reports on the raid from police 5-1/2 months earlier. Lamkin told reporters that police had grossly overreacted to his series of visits to the police station in May to seek a permit to purchase ammunition for target shooting. These visits were three weeks before police staged a raid on Lamkin’s home in a Far West End residential neighborhood. This, said Lamkin, is what happened at the police station in the first week of May:
“At a walk-up window with a receptionist. I asked about purchasing .22 ammo for target shooting on a family farm. I was under the assumption that a permit was required, but no one on duty was able to verify if one was necessary, including the person with the forms for the permit. I have since discovered that Minnesota does not require a permit to purchase ammo. I went back later that same day to try to discuss why the officer got agitated at me and how I could prevent that in the future. We spoke for a period of time, but he still appeared irritated with the discussion. I didn’t push things. I did, however, specifically request to see the interior recording of the previous interaction because we were fundamentally disagreeing on how the interaction played out. I was denied without explanation.”
In taLking with news reporters after the case was settled, Lamkin acknowledged he was louder than may have been necessary as these conversations escalated. The statutes under which Lamkin was charged after the raid included one count boisterous behavior. And indeed Lamkin pleaded guilty to the charge, a misdemeanor, in later plea negotiations.
“I tried to discuss the matter no less than three other times in the next three weeks. The purchase of the ammo wasn’t a pressing matter for me. I was more bothered by how aggressive the employees on duty became. I easily could have let the matter go, but I was concerned that my outgoing and boisterous (haha!) nature from being a professional comedian and performer would be an issue again. I went to the Winona police station again, on May 24, to discuss my concerns. No matter how I worded my concerns or requests, I couldn’t seem to reach the officers I spoke with.”
His persistence triggered the police raid on his house the afternoon of May 24. Sixteen officers, some in riot gear, established a perimeter and megaphoned for Lamkin surrender. He did. In the house there were no operable firearms, Lamkin said.
“I’ve been playing paintball and airsoft since I was in my teens. I have a pretty wide variety of airsoft guns that I’ve acquired over the years, in many different colors and styles, including an AK and an M4 style. I feel like my collection is pretty average among my friends and other players I know. I also am a regular attendee of the Convergence Convention in the Twin Cities — think of it like ComicCon — and I helped outfit friends with fun costumes and props. Because of the costume rules of Convergence, most of the airsoft guns I own are actually rendered inoperable and have distinct markings to demonstrate that they are toys/props, not real weapons.”
In the raid, Lamkin said, police found nothing to confiscate. Even so, he said, police jailed him and referred the case to the county prosecutor with booking charges that included violent threats and assault with a dangerous weapon. After reviewing police reports for supporting evidence, the prosecutor who was assigned to the case decided against pursuing some of the charges recommended by police. Meanwhile Lamkin was held in jail 18 days in lieu of $40,000 bail. Not until five months later, on November 11, did the legalities end with the $350 fine.
Lamkin. Back in Winona after several years. Seeking to re-establish himself locally.