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Mall security guard punched

A 27-year-old Nelson man is expected to be charged with assaulting a peace officer after a security guard was punched at the Chahko Mika Mall Thursday morning.

A 27-year-old Nelson man is expected to be charged with assaulting a peace officer after a security guard was punched at the Chahko Mika Mall Thursday morning.

Police say the incident began when security staff smelled marijuana inside the mall. They couldn’t find the source inside, but outside found a man smoking pot on mall property.

The man was asked to leave, but “became very aggressive and pushed the employee,” according to Sgt. Paul Burkart.

“When the male was told by the security member not to touch him, the male punched the security officer on the side of the head.”

The victim tried to call police, but the man took the cell phone from him and threw it away, Burkart says.

He then damaged a second cell phone belonging to the two security officers. With the help of a civilian, they tackled the man and held him on the ground until police arrived and arrested him.

The man was found to have marijuana on him, and is facing a possession charge along with a charge of mischief.

He was remanded in custody until a Tuesday court appearance.