Wheelchair-Bound Man​ Severely Burned At Minneapolis Homeless Camp

MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating a possible arson after a wheelchair-bound man was severely burned at a homeless encampment early Wednesday morning.

At about 12:50 a.m., officers from the first precinct were called to assist emergency medical service at a small homeless encampment at Glenwood Avenue and Twins Way. However, the call was quickly upgraded to an assault in progress.

At the scene, officers found a wheelchair-bound man — age 57 — with life-threatening burns lying on the ground near a small fire. A second man at the scene, age 45, waved down officers and told them he was assaulted.

Both men were transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by EMS.

After being released from the hospital, the man who claimed he was assaulted was arrested on an unrelated warrant from Stearns County and booked into the Hennepin County Jail, police said.