An outing to the popular restaurant and arcade Dave & Busters turned in to a confrontation when four patrons were denied entry. Two of the four now face a variety of charges, including assault, as a result of the incident.

They arrived and left within a few minutes at about 11 pm. When they started to leave, an off-duty police officer working for the arcade followed them back their pickup truck. The officer was apparently suspicious of the group's behavior, and wanted to investigate further.

One of the defendants allegedly elbowed the officer and then got in to the cab of the pickup truck, giving the keys to his friend. According to the police department, the defendants then backed in to the officer, causing an injury. As the group drove away, the officer jumped on to the flatbed of the truck but was thrown as they accelerated. The men were stopped shortly after that and taken in to custody.

The police officers' injuries appear to be limited to a twisted ankle and some bruising. He initially declined medical treatment.

They both face felony charges for resisting arrest and property damage, along with misdemeanor counts for assaulting a police officer. The men were involved in a similar incident in the past. Criminal history can impact the sentencing if the men are convicted, although past crimes are not generally admitted as evidence of guilt during trial. Experienced criminal defense attorneys can help navigate these types of complex situations, helping defendants to get the best possible outcome.

Source: St.Louis Post-Dispatch, "Two Men charged with Assaulting Maryland Heights Officer at Dave & Busters," Joel Currier, Feb. 3, 2012.