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