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The unusual story had another twist as a civilian onlooker tackled a second suspect to the ground to aid the officer, who was by himself dealing with the would-be street fighter, police said.
People waved down an officer in the area of 850 E. Main St. in Stamford at about 11:30 p.m. after the attack and robbery of a 40-year-old man, police said.
"Several males were yelling and pointing in the direction of two men walking away at a fast pace," Sgt. Robert Shawinsky said, referring to the police report.
The officer caught up to the men, who were found to be intoxicated, police said.
One suspect, later identified as Freddy Lala, placed his hands in his pocket and refused a police order to take them out, Shawinsky said.
"He stated, 'What do you want, I didn't do anything wrong,'" Shawinsky said, referring to the police report.
He refused a second order to remove his hands out of his pocket and at that point the officer drew his weapon, police said. That didn't deter Lala, police said.
"He removed his hands and clenched his fists and got into a clear fighting stance," Shawinsky said.
The victim, who had a bloody face with multiple lacerations, arrived at the scene and pointed out the two men as the ones who had attacked and tried to rob him by going through his pockets, police said.
The officer attempted to put handcuffs on Freddy Lala, who was able to escape the officer's grip and swing his right elbow at the officer, police said. He resumed a fighting stance, but the officer was able to get him under control and handcuff him, police said.
An unknown civilian tackled the second suspect, Henry Lala, to help the lone officer who was busy with Freddy Lala, according to the report.
Henry Lala, 18, of 27 Lafayette St., is charged with third-degree robbery, third-degree assault and interfering with an officer. Freddy Lala, 25, of 125 Lafayette St., is charged with attempting to commit a crime, third-degree assault and interfering with an officer.
It wasn't clear how, or whether, the two suspects are related.
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