A Washington County man has sued the City of Eden Prairie, alleging that police unlawfully released his personal information to dozens of people, leading to a threatening phone call and emotional distress.
In a complaint filed Oct. 3 in Hennepin County District Court, Bennie Jacobs claims the Eden Prairie Police Department violated the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act when it included his private data in a police report summary connected to an interview with his brother, Christopher Rogers, in December 2024. Rogers, who at the time was principal of Oak Point Elementary School, was under police investigation but was never charged with a crime.
According to the complaint, Jacobs accompanied his brother to a Dec. 6, 2024, interview at the Eden Prairie Police Department as moral support. He was not under investigation. Afterward, Jacobs says, he was surprised to learn that his name, address and other identifying information appeared in the department’s report and that the report had been released about 60 times to members of the public.
The lawsuit alleges the city “recklessly and unlawfully” disclosed Jacobs’ information without redaction or consent, violating two sections of the state’s data-privacy law governing active and inactive criminal-investigation files.
Jacobs says that soon after the report circulated, he received an anonymous phone call from someone who knew where he lived and warned him to “watch out.” The caller allegedly referenced Jacobs’ perceived support for his brother.
In the filing, Jacobs states he operates an adult foster care home and feared for the safety of the vulnerable adults under his care. He says the incident caused “emotional distress and worry” and prompted him to install a security camera at his home.
The complaint says the Minnesota Data Practices Office later notified the Eden Prairie Police Department that the disclosure violated state data-privacy laws. Jacobs subsequently filed a Crime Victim Data Privacy Request Form on May 7, 2025, to prevent further release of his information.
Jacobs seeks unspecified compensatory and exemplary damages, along with attorney’s fees and costs. The suit also asks the court to declare that the city violated the data-privacy statute.
Sonia Miller-Van Oort, lead attorney for Jacobs with Sapientia Law Group in Minneapolis, said in a Wednesday email that she could not comment in detail while the case is active but added, “We are hopeful that Eden Prairie will take responsibility for their conduct affecting Mr. Jacobs.”
A spokesperson for the City of Eden Prairie said last week the city cannot comment on pending litigation.
The case is assigned to Judge Laurie Miller. Court filings show the complaint was served Oct. 6. Both sides have paid filing fees and indicated plans for private mediation in early 2026, with a jury trial anticipated in the fall.
Rogers, who resigned from Oak Point Elementary earlier in 2025, was the subject of a police investigation in late 2024. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office reviewed that case and declined to file charges, saying in March 2025 that prosecutors did not believe charges could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.