2 men arrested on suspicion of assaulting police officers outside downtown bar

Spokane police said two officers were assaulted early Sunday morning while trying to arrest two disorderly men outside of a downtown bar.

The men were arguing with bar security on the 200 block of North Division Street at about 1:30 a.m., according to a Spokane Police Department release.

Falexy Olaitiman, 21, had been kicked out of the bar earlier that evening but returned and became argumentative and swore at the bar security team, drawing a crowd, police said.

Police said an officer approached and gave Olaitiman commands that he did not comply with. At the same time, another officer attempted to assist bar security with Emson Eukenio, 22.

Eukenio allegedly tried to punch the officer in the face, but the officer dodged the punch and told Eukenio he would be arrested if he continued to act violently, police said.

That’s when Eukenio approached Olaitiman and told him not to comply with police. The men then walked away, ignoring police commands, the police department release said.

When police told the men they were under arrest, the men allegedly ran.

Police said Olaitiman approached an officer who was turned away from him and punched him in the back. The officer pursuing Olaitiman intervened and took him into custody.

Eukenio continued running north on Division Street. When the pursuing officers approached, they found Eukenio on top of an officer, swinging at him with both fists, according to police.

The pursuing officers could not pull Eukenio off the other officer and deployed a Taser to stop the assault. Eukenio was removed from the officer but placed both his hands under his stomach near his waistband and refused to move them, police said.

A Taser was deployed for a second time, and the officers gained control of Eukenio’s arms and placed him in handcuffs.

Olaitiman was booked for assault in the third degree, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing a law enforcement officer. Eukenio was booked on two counts of third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing a law enforcement officer.

Both men have since been released from Spokane County Jail and are schedule to appear in court.