Man assaults officer during fight
A Van Nuys man was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of assaulting a
police officer during a scuffle outside Gitana restaurant that
involved about 50 people.
Police were called to the bar about 1:30 a.m. after security
personnel at the restaurant, 260 E. Magnolia Blvd., reported Edgar
Rios, 21, was being detained for being intoxicated. When officers
arrived, they found a crowd of about 50 people in the street and
several fights going on, police said. At least 10 officers were called in to quell the disturbance, police said.
When police attempted to take Rios into custody, he allegedly
struggled and knocked one officer to the ground, breaking her watch
and injuring her knee. Under department policy, the officer was taken
to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, but released shortly
afterward.
Ben Godar