Police officers assaulted, one suffers “severe injury”

(KWNO)-A police officer suffered a leg injury, and another was hit in the face during an incident Saturday night. According to Winona Police Department spokesperson, officers responded to reports of a man and woman fighting near the 170 block of East Second Street. They made contact with Xavier Mercer and Anastasia Smith, both 18-years-old. They denied fighting and were uncooperative, according to the spokesperson. Mercer showed signs of intoxication and smelled of alcohol. When officers tried give him breath test Mercer became combative, pushing an officer in the chest and screaming. Smith then started assaulting officers as well. In the act of subduing Mercer an officer’s foot got caught in a storm drain and he suffered a “severe leg injury.” Smith then slapped an officer in the face. Mercer and Smith are both in jail.