Police: Man,19, Punched Officer In The Face At Mini Riot

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 19-year-old man faces assault charges after he punched a police officer in the face Saturday night during a mini riot in Minneapolis, police said.

Police responded to a fight at a massive teen party, known as "Big Bash 2," at the Hyatt Regency, located a 1300 Nicollet Mall, at around 10 p.m.

While police secured the bloodied fight scene, Marquellus Welch walked through it, police said.

A police report painted this picture:

An officer told Welch not to step inside the crime scene. Welch responded to the officer with a profane remark and continued to walk into the restricted area.

The officer lifted his hand to prevent Welch from continuing, but Welch pushed it away. The officer then tried to grab and arrest Welch, and Welch responded by punching him in the face. The blow broke the officer's glasses.

The officer then struck Welch and tried to pull him to the ground. At that moment, other officers ran in and assisted in restraining Welch, who kicked his legs and waved his arms. The officers fought with Welch "for quite some time" before they had him under control.

Welch faces one count of assault on a peace officer, one count of obstruction of the legal process and one count of trespassing. The assault and the obstruction charges are both gross misdemeanors and carry the penalty of a up to a year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.