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Edina Mayor: 'Established Protocol' Followed In Police Incident; Citation To Be Dismissed

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Edina Mayor Jim Hovland says "established protocol" was followed in the arrest of a black man that went viral last week, but that the city will be reviewing the protocol.

The video, which was posted on YouTube last Wednesday, appears to show a plain clothes Edina police officer grabbing an agitated man who the officer says was "walking down the middle of the street."

The woman repeatedly tries to appeal to the officer as the man becomes more and more upset. The man is shown removing his coat, shirts and backpack in an attempt to get away from the officer's grasp.

The video sparked controversy, with Twin Cities rapper and activist Toki Wright and former Minneapolis NAACP President Nekima Levy-Pounds publicly condemning the arrest on social media.

Related: Video Of Black Man Being Arrested After Walking On Edina Street Goes Viral

On Monday, Hovland released this statement, saying in part that the protocol will be reviewed and that the citation in the incident will be dismissed:

Just before noon Oct. 12, an Edina Police Officer observed and stopped Larnie Thomas, who was walking in the lane of traffic on a busy city street. Thomas was detained at the scene. People across the country are expressing concern about how he was treated by the Edina Police.

Thomas was not taken to jail. He was driven to a local shopping mall at his request and released. The citation issued to Thomas will be dismissed.

The officer involved was following established protocol. However, under the circumstances, the City will review that protocol and determine how to better approach this type of incident with greater sensitivity in the future.

We will work with the Edina community and invite other organizations to participate in this very important conversation. There are lessons we should and will learn from this experience.

City officials said Monday they will ask the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for an independent and formal investigation of the incident.

City officials also said that the officer involved in the incident, identified as Lt. Tim Olson, will remain on the job. Officials said all officers involved in the incident followed the department's established procedures, and the incident ended safely.

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