WPRO Newsroom and the Associated Press
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) – Pawtucket police say two officers were assaulted while breaking up an unruly crowd outside a nightclub. One man was arrested and another is being sought.
Officers responded to a fight near The Met on Main Street at about 1 a.m. Friday.
Police say Officer Matthew Mello was trying to arrest a man when another person punched him in the head. Authorities say that when officers were arresting the man who punched Mello, a large group surrounded them, yelled obscenities and someone kicked a second officer, who wasn’t seriously hurt.
Mello has been discharged from Rhode Island Hospital.
Police charged 23-year-old Aderito Andrade of Pawtucket with assaulting Mello. He’s being held without bail. It’s not clear if he has a lawyer.
Authorities are seeking the person who kicked the other officer.