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Man pleads guilty to falsely accusing St. Cloud police in racist attack

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Nov 14, 2011 at 6:42 am

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) - A black man who alleged that two white St. Cloud police officers assaulted him in a racially motivated attack has pleaded guilty to falsely reporting a crime.

The St. Cloud Times reports that 22-year-old Matthew Moe has been ordered to pay $135 in fines and fees. He must also write a letter of apology to the St. Cloud police department.

The Associated Press tried to reach Moe on Saturday but his number was unlisted.

Moe's initial report said two white officers repeatedly pushed him into a snow bank last year, then searched him and ran a records check on him.

But investigators couldn't find officers who matched the detailed description Moe gave them. The only squad car in the area was being driven by a black officer.