An Anoka County judge has agreed to postpone the sentencing of a Minneapolis police officer convicted of first-degree assault following an Andover bar fight last summer.

Sgt. David Clifford was to be sentenced May 29 for punching a fellow bar patron while off duty June 16. However, his attorney asked that the date be pushed back to allow Clifford, a military veteran, to undergo psychological testing through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Results of such tests, Fred Bruno argued, could affect the sentence handed down to his client.

On Thursday, May 16, District Judge Lawrence Johnson agreed to reschedule the officer’s sentencing for July 11.

A Minneapolis police officer since 1993, Clifford served in Granada, Kosovo and Iraq, working during his latter two stints overseas as a private contractor.

Also at Thursday’s hearing, Lawrence agreed to take the defense’s motion for a new trial under advisement.

Bruno argued, among other things, that the jury at one point inappropriately deliberated the case in open court. He also took issue with the state’s characterization of still photos the defense entered as evidence during the trial.

Assistant Anoka County Attorney Blair Buccicone called Bruno’s arguments baseless.

Brian Vander Lee, 44, fell and hit his head on the concrete patio at Tanners Station following Clifford’s punch. He suffered injuries that required three brain surgeries.

Vander Lee, who works in advertising sales at the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune, testified during the trial that his vision, hearing, speech and overall intelligence haven’t been the same since.

A jury last month found Clifford, 48, guilty of three assault charges stemming from the incident, including first-, third- and fifth-degree assault.

During the two-week trial, the defense maintained that Clifford, a highly trained executive officer on the Minneapolis SWAT team, had read Vander Lee’s body language and was anticipating a punch from the intoxicated and belligerent man when he decided to defend himself and strike first.

Sarah Horner can be reached at 651-228-5539. Follow her at twitter.com/hornsarah.