Arrest Made In Minneapolis' 1st 2011 Homicide

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minneapolis Police say an arrest has been made in the first homicide of the year that occurred on Jan. 11 at 1302 Linden Ave.

Arnold Darwin Waukazo, 40, was arrested at City Hall Wednesday afternoon and is currently in custody at the Hennepin County Jail for the alleged murder of 45-year-old Christopher Paul Bates.

Bates was found dead inside her apartment, as a result of complex homicidal violence. Bates went by the first name Chrissie and had been living as a transgender woman.

On the day of her murder, the caretaker of the apartment building found Bates unresponsive and called 911.

When officials arrived, they reported Bates' death as suspicious and began an investigation. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death was, in fact, a homicide.

Details have not been released as to what led police to arrest Waukazo, but they say the case has been forwarded to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for consideration of criminal charges.