Caledonia Argus

Man says officer used excessive force in making arrest

Posted: 1/14/03

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

A Spring Grove man has accused a Caledonia police officer of using excessive force in subduing him in an incident December 6. Mark Knutson, Spring Grove, told the Caledonia City Council Monday evening that Jim Logan beat him unconscious as his two children, ages 7 and 9, looked on.

No one from the Caledonia Police Department attended the meeting to answer the charges.

According to Knutson, who was accompanied by his parents, Lawrence and Loretta Knutson, Logan came to the home at which Knutson was staying just south of Caledonia on the evening of December 6 on a report of a domestic situation. Knutson said that his estranged wife has a restraining order against him, but that he had no contact with her and that she had dropped their two children off that night.

Knutson said he and his children were in the hot tub when Logan arrived. He said Logan ordered him into the squad car, and was standing between him and his children, who were still in the hot tub. Knutson said he wanted to get his children out of the hot tub, and Logan continued to block his way. He said Logan began yelling at his children to get out of the tub. Knutson also alleged that Logan shot mace at his son twice during the altercation. He also stated that Logan hit him on the back of the head and slammed him against the wall.

Knutson said he was beaten so severely that he required CPR when the ambulance arrived.

Lawrence Knutson told the council that if Logan felt threatened by his son, he should have waited until his back-up arrived to take Mark into custody. There were six police officers and two ambulances at the scene.

Lawrence said he and his wife were called to St. Francis Hospital to pick up their son, and that on the way home, they were stopped by law enforcement authorities as soon as they entered Minnesota. He said the officers drew their guns and then took Mark from the car.

ìThey had to get some sucker to transport him back to Minnesotaî so they could arrest him, said Knutson.

As a result of the incident, said Mark, he has not been able to work and his children have entered counseling. He said he is still suffering the effects of the beating.

All three of the Knutsons have filed complaints with the Caledonia Police Department, and Caledonia Police Chief Duane St. Mary is investigating. According to Mayor Robert Burns, the complaint will be found to be substantiated, unsubstantiated, or that insufficient evidence exists to make a judgement.

If the city is not satisfied with the results, it can order an investigation from an outside agency.

Mayor Burns said the council will wait until after the conclusion of the investigation to make any decisions. Council members noted that the police department had been advised not to attend the public meeting.

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