Mpls. Police Chief, Mayor Looking For Outside Leader For Flowers Investigation

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau and Mayor Betsy Hodges said Tuesday that they are looking for a leader outside of law enforcement to investigate the arrest of community activist Al Flowers, who says he was beaten over the weekend by city police.

"Chief Harteau and I decided together that transparency and fairness for Mr. Flowers, the Police Department and the community are best served by an independent investigation," Hodges said in a statement. "We intend to identify the leader of this investigation in the coming days."

The police chief added that an outside leader is needed in this investigation to "avoid any appearance of impropriety."

Flowers, a community activist and former mayoral candidate, said he did nothing wrong Saturday when police arrested and beat him at his south Minneapolis home.

"I did everything I was supposed to do right," he said. "And I still end up with staples in my head, stitches in my eye and my ribs."

Police said he didn't cooperate with them as they issued a search warrant for the arrest of his 16-year-old daughter. They also said that one of their officers was injured and had to be treated at the hospital following the incident.

Flowers was released from jail on Sunday.

His daughter turned herself in and was released after an investigation showed she was in compliance with her home monitoring system.