Court to hear arguments in case of Mpls. cops accused of assault

Arguments are scheduled in Federal District Court Friday in a lawsuit against a group of Minneapolis police officers.

In Jack Mahaffy's complaint, he claims that in May of 2004 he was walking across a street when he was knocked down from behind and punched by two men. Mahaffy said he didn't know at the time the men were Minneapolis police officers Bob Kroll and Wally Krueger.

The men were off-duty and in plain clothes. Mahaffy's sister said she also was punched by one of the officers after she tried to pull him off her brother.

Mahaffy's attorneys argue Kroll and Krueger were acting in their official capacities as police officers. They contend the men directed uniformed officers who arrived at the scene to arrest Mahaffy.

But the city attorney said Kroll and Krueger were not acting on behalf of the city and the city will not defend them in court.

Both Kroll and Krueger have denied that they were acting as police officers and deny they assaulted Mahaffy and others at the scene.