After two brain surgeries and nearly 40 hours on life-support, a Ramsey father of four reportedly knocked to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer last weekend was showing small signs of recovery.

Meanwhile, the officer — Sgt. David Clifford, 47, of Andover, who was charged Monday with third-degree assault — claimed he acted in self-defense.

Brian Vander Lee wiggled his toes and gave doctors a thumbs-up Monday, June 18, at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. He was expected to begin breathing on his own soon, said Mike Archambault, who spoke on behalf of his friend’s family.

“We’ve watched him laying in bed all swollen up on life-support for two days, and now he is responding … we’re freaking delighted,” he said of Vander Lee.

Vander Lee was sitting with his brother and wife on the patio of Tanners Station in Andover about 7 p.m. Saturday when Clifford punched him once in the head, authorities said.

The 43-year-old fell to the ground and struck his head on the concrete patio. Clifford, executive officer of the Minneapolis Police Department’s SWAT unit, then left the bar, authorities said.

According to the criminal complaint, Clifford said he was with his wife and acquaintances when he heard Brian Vander Lee using offensive language at a nearby table. He said he asked Vander Lee to stop, which he reportedly did for a time, but when he started up again, Clifford approached his table. Fearing Vander Lee was going to strike him, Clifford said, he punched him.

Clifford fled across the street, where his wife picked him up, the complaint said.

He admitted he avoided officers when they came looking for him at his home Saturday night; Clifford surrendered at the Anoka County Jail the next day.

Witnesses told investigators they did not hear Vander Lee using offensive language, the complaint said.

Vander Lee’s brother, Mike Vander Lee, was in the restroom at the time of the incident, but he said, “the guy never said anything … there was no contact, no confrontation.

“We were just sitting out on the patio in broad daylight, and for some reason this guy decides to attack my brother,” he said.

Video surveillance shows Clifford approaching Vander Lee and punching him, said Cmdr. Paul Sommer, spokesman for the Anoka County sheriff’s office.

Sommer said Vander Lee was on a cellphone at the time of the attack.

“That type of behavior is out of line for civilian employees, but it’s egregious on the part of a sworn law enforcement officer,” Sommer said.

Clifford, who remained jailed Monday evening, was placed on paid “home assignment,” Minneapolis police spokesman Sgt. William Palmer said.

A Minneapolis officer since 1993, Clifford has twice been awarded the Medal of Valor, the department’s second-highest honor, Palmer said. He also has received two Merit Awards and was nominated for three others. In addition, he served with the United Nations in Kosovo.

He has no disciplinary actions that have been sustained. But Clifford was one of three Minneapolis SWAT team officers named as defendants in a civil rights lawsuit brought by a woman who was severely burned in a botched 2010 raid.

The woman, Rickia Russell, and the city settled the suit for $1 million in November.

The suit alleged Clifford instructed officer Craig Taylor to “deploy a flash-bang grenade immediately upon entry” into an apartment where police suspected crack cocaine was being sold. The grenade went off under Russell’s legs, causing third-degree burns. As she screamed in pain, officers ordered her to lie on the floor as they handcuffed her.

Russell spent two weeks in the burn unit of Hennepin County Medical Center.

Police found no evidence of any drugs in the apartment.

Clifford also has weathered personal difficulties. In May 2007, he and his wife, Kellie Marie Clifford, filed for bankruptcy. Kellie Clifford could not be reached for comment Monday.

Archambault said Vander Lee’s family was struggling to understand what happened.

“We can’t come up with a reason,” Archambault said. “I just pray for everyone involved. It’s a horrible, horrible deal.”

As for his friend, Archambault said he was optimistic, particularly after Vander Lee’s gains Monday.

“He’s strong; he is a freaking trouper,” he said.

Vander Lee and his wife, Kourtney, have four daughters younger than age 11. He works in the advertising department of the Star Tribune, according to the Minneapolis newspaper.

Sarah Horner can be reached at shorner@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5539. David Hanners can be reached at dhanners @pioneerpress.com or 612-338-6516.