A St. Paul police officer is being investigated for aggravated assault after a man complained he was beaten while in police custody last November.

Police spokesman Peter Panos said a case involving officer Scott Wendell, who has been assigned to desk duty during the investigation, has been forwarded to the Hennepin County attorney's office for review.

Panos said Tuesday that he did not have access to any records describing the incident, nor did he know the alleged victim's name.

However, LeAnn Tonn said Wednesday that Wendell beat her son, Luke Prescott, 28, while he was in a holding cell at the Ramsey County jail.

She said Prescott told her Wendell had beaten him while he was handcuffed. Her son had to be taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul for treatment, Tonn added.

When she saw her son the following day, she said, he had a turban-like bandage around his head and bloody clothes.

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, whose office runs the jail, said Prescott was never booked into the jail that evening. The incident, if it occurred, he said, would have been in a separate holding area made available to state and local law enforcement agencies.

A spokeswoman for the Hennepin County attorney's office said Tuesday that the office is reviewing the case but declined to further comment.

Luke Prescott could not be reached for comment.

ANTHONY LONETREE