Off-Duty Officer Hit Outside Restaurant

An off-duty Spokane police officer was sucker-punched outside of a North Side restaurant early Sunday morning when he tried to stop a brawl, police said.

Officer Terry Preuninger was waiting outside Swackhammer’s, 25 E. Lincoln Road, just after midnight Saturday to drive several friends home.

When a fight started, Preuninger identified himself as a police officer and showed his badge, police said. He was taking one man into custody when another man punched him. A security guard for Swackhammer’s also was attacked.

Other officers arrived and arrested the two men. Preuninger suffered facial cuts.

James P. Parsley, 22, who gave his address as 3903 E. Pratt, was being held in jail Sunday for third-degree assault, police said. No bond had been set.

Jody L. Thomas, 28, also known as Jody Mills, who gave his address as 1847 E. 13th, was being held in jail Sunday for assault and disorderly conduct, police said. His bond was set at $750.

, DataTimes