Man convicted of biting, punching police officers sentenced

A Minneapolis man who was convicted of punching one police officer and biting another will not see jail time.

According to court records, Julius Haddison-Fondanui Tasha was sentenced to three years of probation.

Tasha pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree assault of a peace officer in August.

A criminal complaint states that a St. Paul police officer working off-duty reported being assaulted at a Speedway on Seventh Street East on Aug. 3. The officer reported the man who assaulted her was running east on Seventh Street and warned that he was "violently aggressive."

The complaint states an officer observed a man at Seventh and Olive streets, just a few blocks away from Speedway, who matched the description of the suspect. When the man saw the officer, he walked into a dark area and attempted to hide under a tree.

Charges: Man bites 1 police officer, punches another after shoplifting

As the officer approached the man, he swung a closed fist at the officer's face, the complaint states, but the officer was able to avoid it.

Officers then attempted to take the man into custody, but he resisted and was physically aggressive. As an officer grabbed the man's left arm, the complaint says the man bit the officer's arm.

Speedway employees told officers the defendant attempted to steal multiple items from the store, and when the off-duty officer approached him and asked him to return the items, the man punched her three or four times in the face.

The complaint states the off-duty officer was transported to a hospital for treatment. Officers also viewed surveillance video of the incident from Speedway.

In an interview with officers, the man admitted to warming up food at Speedway and said an officer told him to put down the food and leave, but said he did so and never punched or fought the officer, the complaint states.