ST. PAUL — The use of no-knock warrants in Minnesota decreased by 79% in the first full year since state lawmakers passed restrictions on the controversial law enforcement practice, according to the latest Bureau of Criminal Apprehension report .

There were 18 no-knock warrants issued last year and 16 that were carried out. In 2023, 84 were issued. The year before that: 179.

The changed state law, which went into effect in August 2023, set a higher standard for courts to issue the warrants and requires officers to “loudly and understandably” announce their presence before entering.

It came about a year and a half after the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Amir Locke during a no-knock raid. Locke was not a suspect and was asleep on the couch when Minneapolis officers burst in without warn

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