Crowd Assaults Florida Officer During Arrest

An officer was assaulted by a crowd as he attempted to arrest a Melbourne, Fla., man who police believe had violated a city ordinance just after midnight on Monday, Melbourne Police say.

As an officer approached 22-year-old Phoenix Chansler Low to inform him of the violation, he became combative against the officer and ignored their instructions, according to Melbourne Police.

Police say that while the officer was trying to handcuff Low, a crowd surrounded the officer and began to interfere with Low's arrest by yelling, striking and pulling at both the officer and Low. At that point, the officer feared for his safety and utilized less-lethal force toward the crowd, Florida Today reports.

Low is charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting with violence, resisting without violence and having an open container of alcohol.