Police investigating man's death at homeless encampment at Minnehaha Park

Police in Minneapolis say they are investigating the death of a man at a homeless encampment near Minnehaha Park.

Officers were called to the encampment on the 4900 block of South Minnehaha Park Drive shortly after noon Sunday to "check on the welfare" of a man inside one of the tents.

When they got there, police say "numerous people fled on foot," and that officers found a body inside the tent, which had "experienced obvious trauma."

The body was initially reported by police being that of a woman, but over the course of identification by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, it was determined that a man had died.

MPD and the Minneapolis Park Police are investigating the nature and cause of death.

Police say that those who fled the scene may have done so because they "mistakenly believed the officers were there to assist in disbanding the encampment."

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board had on New Year's Eve served those staying at the Minnehaha Park encampment with a notice informing them they must vacate the site by Sunday (Jan. 3).

Anyone with information is asked to call the MPD Homicide Unit at 612-673-2941 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Note: Some of the details provided in this story are based on the police’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.