A man who was fatally beaten in a Brooklyn Center motel room a little more than a week ago was identified Monday as a 47-year-old from Bloomington.

Michael R. Genty was found by police beaten to death late in the afternoon on Jan. 31 at the motel near Interstate 694 and Shingle Creek Parkway.

A 52-year-old man from Minneapolis was jailed the next evening and held on suspicion of murder, then released Friday without being charged as the investigation into the death continues.

Search warrant affidavits filed by police say that officers were called to the motel twice earlier that day, once to look into an allegation that Genty was in an altercation with a 48-year-old woman. The woman did not substantiate the accusation, and Genty was escorted from the motel late that morning.

About 2:30 p.m., police returned to the motel and again removed Genty from the property, the court documents continued.

Less than three hours later, Genty was found dead at the motel.

The man who was later jailed was seen by police standing next to the body with blood on his hands, clothes and shoes, the documents read. He is the same the man who reported the alleged altercation between Genty and the woman earlier that day.

The man explained to the police detective that he knocked out Genty, according to the court filings.

A DNA sample was taken from the man the next day, the search warrant affidavits continued. Numerous pieces of clothing, a cellphone, a vodka bottle and other items also were taken from the motel room as evidence, the documents read.

Both men have had run-ins over the years with the law. Genty's convictions include trespassing, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. The other man's convictions have been for assault, disorderly conduct, theft, burglary and various alcohol-related offenses.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482