Two arrested after officer punched in face during Gaslamp Quarter street fight

A fight in Gaslamp Quarter early Sunday resulted in a police officer being punched in the face and two people being arrested, according to San Diego police.

Around 1:15 a.m. police officers with the department’s Gaslamp Enforcement Team responded to a report of a fight at the corner of F Street and 5th Avenue, Capt. Adam Sharki said Monday.

Officers attempted to break up the brawl, which involved multiple people, a video posted to social media shows. The officers are shown ordering people in the crowd to back up and give them space as they detain a suspect lying on the ground.

The video then shows one man attempting to push an officer off the suspect before a second man runs up and punches the officer in the face.

An officer immediately pepper sprays the man who threw the punch, forcing the attacker to walk away. A woman then attempts to steal an officer’s bicycle that was lying on the ground near the fight.

An officer wrestles the bike away from the woman just as more law enforcement arrive at the scene to disperse the crowd, the video shows.

The officer who was punched in the face suffered minor injuries and continued working the rest of his shift, Sharki said.

The man allegedly shown throwing the punch was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer, according to online jail records. A woman was also arrested in connection with the fight.

“Our officers do a tremendous job to ensure the safety of all, particularly on busy nights,” Sharki said. “Any person who commits acts of violence on an officer while they are trying to carry out their duties will be held accountable.”

It was not immediately known if any other arrests were made in connection to the brawl or what the motive behind the initial fight was.