Officers called to quell downtown bar brawls

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River Falls police chased, caught and arrested a 22-year-old local man for battery and disorderly conduct at Coach’s Bar and Grill at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, March 4. The suspect had fled on foot, going east. He was found lying near a parked car at Fourth and Elm streets.

The man allegedly punched a 25-year-year local man. There was bad blood between them because of a fight in another incident a few months ago.

This time, the alleged victim said his attacker in the bar turned as if to walk way, then quickly turned back and smacked him several times around the eye. The man went to the hospital for bloody facial injuries and bruises.

The man arrested said the other guy spit on him in the bar. He admitted to throwing a punch. He said he ran away because he didn’t want to deal with police.

In the end he was given fines exceeding $500.

Police also:

--Arrested two brothers, ages 24 and 29, from River Falls, for disorderly conduct at Mel’s Midtowner tavern at 2 a.m. Friday. One brother was told to leave, that it was closing time. But he didn’t want to leave, not just yet, he replied. First he wanted to finish a drink and a story he was telling.

The other brother stepped in to his defense. A confrontation followed with Mel’s employees. There was pushing, yelling, screaming and shoving.

Officers say both brothers were hard to control and intoxicated. The older brother was also arrested for obstruction. The younger brother allegedly tried to interfere in the arrest and demanded that he be arrested, too. That wish was soon granted.

--Arrested a 32-year-old St. Paul man for disorderly conduct during a melee at Boomer’s Bar just after 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Most of the fighters had already been escorted outside and had left by the time officers arrived. A bouncer was belted in the eye trying to break up the fight.

The St. Paul man, identified as the “heavy hitter,” said he was hit himself while throwing punches. No explanation was given about the cause of this fight.

--Investigated a burglary at a rental unit at 816 Sycamore St. that’s also being labeled an arson. A 26-year-old male tenant came home Saturday night to find smoke in his kitchen. He located a can of spraypaint inside his oven. The broiler was turned on. After turning off the oven, the small blaze was snuffed out.

Two other tenants were away at the time. It’s believed the place, which was apparently locked and showed no signs of forced entry, had no one inside for only a half hour that night – between 9 and 9:30 p.m.

--Investigated a burglary attempt at Fantastic Sams, 1587 Paulson Road, early last week, possibly late Monday night, Feb. 27. Pry marks and boot imprints were found on the front steel door and jamb. Officers also found other boot prints made against the doors of other businesses in that building.

There are more details on these and other cases in Police Beat, the March 7 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

Tags: river falls, news, crime, courts