PAWTUCKET, R.I. � Officers breaking up a large fight near The Met early Friday morning said some of the brawlers attacked them and injured a rookie officer.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. � Officers breaking up a large fight near The Met early Friday morning said some of the brawlers attacked them and injured a rookie officer.

The police had been moving along a traffic jam of vehicles leaving a private event at the club at 1005 Main St. around 1 a.m. when they saw a fight break out in a nearby parking lot. The four officers moved in to break up the fight � and found themselves under attack.

Officer Matthew Mello briefly lost consciousness after a Pawtucket man punched him in the head as he was trying to arrest another man, Maj. Arthur Martins said.

When other officers grabbed the man who assaulted Mello, they were surrounded and attacked by a crowd of several dozen people, said Martins.

As police struggled to arrest 23-year-old Aderito A. Andrade, some people shouted obscenities at the officers and kicked Officer Diane Rittmann-McLaughlin as she helped arrest Andrade.

Two officers used pepper spray to push back the crowd, which then dispersed.

Mello was taken to Rhode Island Hospital to be treated for bruises and cuts on his head and face; he has since been released from the hospital.

Andrade was charged with assault on police, simple assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. His bail was set at $10,000 with surety during his arraignment Friday at District Court. However, Andrade is held without bail as a violator of his probation on a charge of driving with a suspended license.

The man who Mello was trying to arrest got away, but detectives are asking the public�s help to identify him. Police are asking anyone with information about the brawl to contact�the Police Department at (401) 727-9100, and talk to Detective Hans Cute (ext. 818) or Detective Rob Cardente (ext. 769).