By Kathleen Kirkwood
East Bay Times
RICHMOND, Calif. — A police sergeant was punched by a belligerent man he was trying to help, after finding him in the middle of a busy street on Wednesday night, authorities said.
Richmond police Sgt. D. Nelson suffered a broken nose when he was punched by the man, who had been laying in the 700 block of 23rd Street at about 10:15 p.m., according to police.
Nelson also suffered other cuts but will be OK, police said.
The man he was trying to help was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
According to police, Nelson saw the man in the middle of the street, which is typically a busy one and has four lanes of traffic. Nelson made a U-turn in his patrol car to block off a section of 23rd street after several cars swerved to avoid the man, police said.
Nelson then tried to help the man across the lanes of traffic and onto a sidewalk. Once there, police said, he asked the man his address, only to see him become agitated.
Police say the man then threw a punch without warning, and the two started to struggle. Nelson subdued the suspect eventually and got him into handcuffs.
Nobody else was injured.
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©2017 the Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.)