Minneapolis police officer punched out an apparently inebriated man yesterday, causing him to be taken from the scene via ambulance, according to a witness who provided his account and photos of the incident on condition of anonymity.

"When the man got within roughly a foot of the officer, the officer punched the man in the jaw with his right fist, knocking him against the windows of the storefront, taking him to the ground and immediately cuffing him," the witness says. "He appeared to be knocked out and blood was pooling out from his mouth."

Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder confirms that there was a Use of Force that resulted in the suspect leaving the scene via ambulance, but won't be able to say what prompted it until the report is filed later this afternoon.

"The gentleman did get struck, absolutely no two ways about it," Elder told City Pages last night. "The officer states in his report that he did use force on the individual."

The incident took place outside the Cost Cutters at 2921 26th Ave. S. The man, who appeared to be drunk, had been laying on the lobby floor at a nearby Rainbow for at least half an hour, according to one observer. Two cops arrived and confronted him.