
Minneapolis cop says he threatened Somali over flag; department starts internal probe
By David Hanners
dhanners@pioneerpress.com
Posted: 03/19/2012 12:01:00 AM CDT
Updated: 03/20/2012 06:06:15 PM CDT
A 15-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department is under investigation after he allegedly posted on his Facebook page that while on duty, he saw an upside-down American flag near a "Somali hangout spot" and demanded the owner hang the flag right-side up.
"If I find it upside down the next time I work, the (expletive) will hit the fan and there will be trouble," the officer, Steve Loeding, warned Sunday night on his page.
"Let me know and I will go with you Steve!!" one of his friends replied.
The message was posted sometime after 8:30 p.m. Sunday, March 18, but it appears Loeding, 40, had removed it by Monday morning. During that time, some people who saw it forwarded screen images of it to police and city officials, including the office of Mayor R.T. Rybak.
Police spokesman Sgt. William Palmer said that he could confirm Loeding was under investigation by the internal affairs unit but that he could not discuss specifics.
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_ ... -over-flag