SAN ANTONIO – A violent brawl between a police officer and a suspect happened right in front of shoppers inside North Star mall Saturday morning.
Just before 11:30 a.m. San Antonio police responded to a robbery call, which turned into a man accused of groping a woman and not leaving without a fight.
When KSAT 12 arrived the 46-year-old man, Joe Trevino, according to police was down on the ground in handcuffs as an EMT checked the suspect for injuries and police gathered evidence of the bare knuckles fight.
The fight occurred inside, in front of mall shoppers and a security guard by the mall kiosks, authorities said.
Trevino is accused of biting the officer on the hand and scratching his face.
"He actually tore uh, tore his skin and caused a lot of blood to come out of there," said a San Antonio Police Department sergeant at the scene describing the hand injury.
The wounded officer is OK, but broke his finger and knuckle in the brawl.
Police tell us upon arrival and after talking to the female victim, he realized it was actually an alleged groping.
"Grabbed the female, in a way she shouldn't have been grabbed or touched," described the sergeant.
Spotting Trevino, the officer says he tried to talk.
Police say Trevino has many arrests on his record decided to fight.
Charges include assault, resisting arrest and aggravated assault of an officer.
With no serious injuries, both men went to have blood drawn to make sure there’s no chance of infectious diseases spreading.