MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — More details are expected this week on why two Minneapolis police officers were placed on administrative leave. That’s when court records become available from an incident that led to their arrest at a Green Bay bar last month.
In the meantime, WCCO found other court records that reveal more about past accusations against each officer.
Dating back to 2009, “Beating,” “kicking” and “violating civil rights” are some of the phrases on the claims against the officers. They all occurred before this Green Bay controversy.
Speaking of Green Bay, WCCO has confirmed that Minneapolis Police Internal Affairs officers are heading to that area this week to find out more.
Officer Brian Thole is one of the officers on leave from his job as a police officer. He and fellow officer, Shawn Powell, are accused of using racial slurs and fighting in a Wisconsin bar.
According to court records of other complaints, Thole is named in one with officers who served a warrant in 2012. The defendant claims while being served a warrant, officers “kicked and hit him about his face and body.”
WCCO found two past complaints Powell. In a wrongful death suit, over the death of a stolen car suspect shot by police. Paperwork says the Somali man was brutally assaulted, tortured and killed. That was February 2009.
What happened days later spawned another suit. Papers claim Powell was one of seven officers involved in the beating of man pulled over for speeding. Papers say the beating was so intense the man defecated on himself. The city settled on that one, closing that case.
We are also told although the officers still have their jobs with the department, they have been released from the SWAT team.
More Info
Brian Thole: Complaint | City Response
Shawn Powell: Darryl Jenkins Complaint | City Response
Wrongful Death | Affidavit | Lawsuit Motion To Dismiss
