Officer punched in face after breaking up fight downtown

A Wilmington police officer trying to break up a fight downtown early Sunday morning was punched in the face.

Christopher Mercado is charged with resisting arrest and assault on a government official.

It happened around 2:30 a.m. when officers responded to a fight outside a bar in the 100 block of Market Street.

Police said Mercado was uncooperative while officers tried to escort him from the area. That is when police said Mercado hit an officer in the face.

Officers used pepper spray. Mercado went to jail, posted bond and was released.