Minneapolis police accused of beating Indian man

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minneapolis police are investigating allegations that two officers beat and urinated on an American Indian man and then left him outside in freezing temperatures, authorities said Wednesday.

Witnesses say two Minneapolis police officers dumped an intoxicated American Indian man and woman in a parking lot at the Little Earth of United Tribes housing complex shortly before midnight Saturday.

The officers then allegedly beat the man and at least one officer urinated on him, while the woman hid under a nearby station wagon, said Clyde Bellecourt of the American Indian Movement.

After the officers left, a witness called two off-duty Minneapolis officers who came and took the man to Hennepin County Medical Center, Bellecourt said.

"A lot of people are shocked that something as degrading as that would happen by people who are supposed to be our protectors," Bellecourt said.

Police Chief Robert Olson said an internal affairs investigation is looking into the allegations.

"This is a terrible thing and I'm very upset about it," Olson said. "We're going to do everything we can to get to the bottom of it and bring some justice."