Minnesota Police Gave Occupy Protesters Drugs? Cops Launch Investigation

Minnesota police are facing increasing pressure over claims that officers got Occupy protesters high as part of a program designed to help law enforcement identify the symptoms of drug use.

The Guardian reports that the program has now been suspended while public safety officials conduct a criminal investigation into the claims.

CBS Minnesota reports that one local officer has come forward to tell authorities that he saw a fellow cop giving out marijuana.

The controversy began after video surfaced showing alleged participants, including one who claims, "They [the police] come into downtown... and basically pick up random people, and ask them to do drug evaluations."

When the story first broke, Lt. Eric Roeske, public information officer and spokesperson for the Minnesota State Patrol, denied the accusations in a statement sent to The Huffington Post.

"It is against our policies and against the law to provide people with any sort any sort of illegal drugs or to allow them to use them in our presence," he said. "We have found no evidence or information that substantiated the allegations made in the video."