LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The Douglas County Sheriff's Department on Tuesday was investigating a case in which a professor whose planned course on creationism and intelligent design was canceled after he derided Christian conservatives said he was the victim of a roadside beating.

University of Kansas religious studies professor Paul Mirecki was treated at a hospital and released Monday.

Tuesday, Mirecki told KMBC by phone that he's finished talking to reporters. He said, "It's gotten out of hand with the media. Sorry, gotta go," and then hung up, KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported.

He did tell the Lawrence Journal-World for a story Tuesday that two men who beat him were making references to the class that was to be offered for the first time this spring. Originally called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies," the course was canceled last week at Mirecki's request.

The class was added after the Kansas Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in science standards for elementary and secondary students.

Lt. Kari Wempe, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said Tuesday that the investigation continued and no arrests had been made. She said Mirecki reported he was attacked around 6:40 a.m. Monday on a rural road south of Lawrence.

"At this point, it's under investigation. It's a reported crime and we're obligated to investigate it," Wempe said.

Mirecki told the Journal-World he was driving to breakfast when he noticed the men tailgating him in a pickup truck.

"I didn't know them," Mirecki said, "but I'm sure they knew me."

A recent e-mail from Mirecki to members of a student organization referred to religious conservatives as "fundies" and said a course describing intelligent design as mythology would be a "nice slap in their big fat face." Mirecki has apologized for those comments.

"I just pulled over hoping they would pass, and then they pulled up real close behind," he said. "They got out, and I made the mistake of getting out."

He said the men beat him on the head, shoulders and back with their fists, and possibly a metal object.

Wempe said Mirecki drove himself to the hospital after the attack.

Mirecki told the student newspaper, The University Daily Kansan, that he spent between three and four hours at the hospital. He said his injuries included a broken tooth.

"I'm mostly shaken up, and I got some bruises and sore spots," he told the Journal-World.

Wempe said Mirecki described the suspects as two white men between 30 and 40 years of age. One was described as wearing a red visor-like ball cap and wool gloves. Mirecki said the men left in a large pickup truck

Sen. Kay O'Connor, a Mirecki critic, said there is no excuse for someone physically assaulting the professor - regardless of their politics.

"I have zero tolerance for thugs," she said. "There is never an excuse to behave in such a manner. This was just thugs. They used a flimsy excuse, if they had one, to behave as thugs. They can talk about the ID (intelligent design) course if they want to, but that's not an excuse."