Parole board delays Ronald Reed decision to September
The Minnesota Supervised Release Board met on August 11 and delayed its decision on convicted St. Paul police officer killer Ronald Reed's parole until its next meeting on September 11.[1]
Board members were split between granting a staggered, work-release-first "presumptive parole" over six to nine months and denying parole for at least a year.[1] A motion to deny parole and reconsider in one year failed on a 2-3 vote.[1] Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell cast the deciding vote and said he wanted to "figure out what it would take to move this forward." FOX 9 Members who favored some form of release cited Reed's institutional behavior and that he lived in the community for nearly two decades after the 1970 murder without additional violence.[1] During the hearing Reed denied any role in Officer Sackett's killing, said he was wrongfully convicted and said his ex-girlfriend placed the false 911 call.[1]
Trial records show Reed was convicted in the 1970 killing of Officer Sackett and that his ex-girlfriend, Constance Trimble-Smith, testified Reed directed her to make the false 911 call.[1] Witnesses also told jurors Reed had talked about killing a cop to "put St. Paul on the map" and attract a Black Panther chapter, evidence the board considered at the hearing.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- The Minnesota Supervised Release Board met on August 11 but delayed its decision on Ronald Reed’s parole until its next meeting on September 11.
- Board members were split between granting a staggered, work‑release‑first “presumptive parole” over 6–9 months and denying parole for at least a year.
- A motion to deny parole and reconsider in one year failed on a 2–3 vote, with Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell casting the deciding vote against immediate denial and saying he wanted to “figure out what it would take to move this forward.”
- Board members who favored some form of release cited Reed’s institutional behavior and that he lived in the community for nearly two decades between the 1970 murder and his eventual arrest without additional violence.
- During the hearing, Ronald Reed again denied any role in Officer Sackett’s killing, said he was wrongfully convicted and not at the scene, and acknowledged his ex‑girlfriend placed the false 911 call.
- The article recaps trial‑record evidence, including ex‑girlfriend Constance Trimble‑Smith’s testimony that Reed directed her to make the false 911 call and witnesses who said Reed had talked about killing a cop to “put St. Paul on the map” and attract a Black Panther chapter.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- The Minnesota Supervised Release Board met on August 11 but delayed its decision on Ronald Reed’s parole until its next meeting on September 11.
- The board was split between granting a staggered, work‑release‑first “presumptive parole” over 6–9 months and denying parole for at least a year.
- A motion to deny parole and reconsider in one year failed on a 2–3 vote, with Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell casting the deciding vote against immediate denial, saying he wanted to "figure out what it would take to move this forward."
- Board members favoring some form of release cited Reed’s institutional behavior and the fact that he lived in the community for nearly two decades between the 1970 murder and his eventual arrest without additional violence.
- During the hearing, Reed again denied any role in Officer Sackett’s killing, claiming wrongful conviction and saying he was not at the scene, while acknowledging his ex‑girlfriend placed the false 911 call.
- The article recaps trial‑record evidence, including ex‑girlfriend Constance Trimble‑Smith’s testimony that Reed directed her to make the false 911 call and witnesses who said Reed had talked about killing a cop to “put St. Paul on the map” and attract a Black Panther chapter.