On April 24, 2026, MICHAEL COROTAZA BROWN aka MICHAEL CORTES BROWN [DOB REDACTED] and his family went to Target on University Avenue. Brown and his family got on a bus at University and Hamline Avenues. The bus driver, HS, asked if the family had fare. They told HS they did, and they sat down without paying. HS again asked for the fare. Brown and the woman with him became upset claiming they were only going one block and the passengers who boarded before them did not pay. HS told Brown that he just needed to know if they were going to pay or not so he can press the correct button to document it.
Brown’s group accused HS of disrespecting them and singling them out. Brown and his family got off at University and Fairview Avenues, St. Paul, Ramsey County. Brown called HS a “b**** nigga.” Brown slammed a can of soda in HS’s face, and Brown punched HS’s head twice. Officers suspected Brown and his family went to Morrow Apartments at [ADDRESS REDACTED] West. Later obtained surveillance video confirmed Brown and his family entered the apartment after they got off the bus. Officers went to Target and obtained video of Brown and his family in the store.
An employee recognized the woman with Brown as a former employee at another store who was fired for repeated theft. Officers were able to positively identify Brown as the man who assaulted HS from surveillance video. Brown has 5 prior felony convictions: 3 DANCO violations, an OFP violation, and a domestic assault. On January 14, 2025, Brown was sentenced on a felony DANCO violation in Ramsey County District Court file ••-CR-••-••••. Brown received an agreed upon dispositional departure. On August 15, 2024, Brown was sentenced on a felony DANCO violation in Ramsey County District Court file ••-CR-••-••••. Brown received a downward durational departure.
Brown currently has a warrant for his arrest on burglary in the first degree, domestic assault by strangulation, false imprisonment, and domestic assault charges in Rice County District Court file 66-CR- 25-2817. Brown currently has a warrant for his arrest on felony DANCO charges in Leseur County District Court file ••-CR-••-••••.
