After several people sprayed beer on patrons on the dance floor of a Worcester bar, four suspects were arrested after punching and kicking police officers in a melee on Water Street, officials said.

Around 1 a.m. Friday morning, several people were asked to leave the District Bar and Nightclub at 109 Water St. for spraying beer on patrons, according to a statement from Worcester police.

A Worcester police officer working an off-duty assignment at the bar was flagged down by security staff and helped remove the unruly men, police said.

One of those men, identified as 32-year-old Concepcion Rodriguez of Worcester, started to taunt the staff and refused to leave, police said.

As the officer walked toward him, Rodriguez shoved the officer and took a boxer’s stance, according to police.

The officer called for backup and tried to arrest Rodriguez.

That’s when Rodriguez struck the officer on the left side of his head with a closed fist, police said. The officer struck back and was eventually able to get Rodriguez on the ground.

As the officer was struggling with Rodriguez, police said another man, identified as 23-year-old Gabriel Rivera of Worcester, tried to push the officer off Rodriguez.

“Mr. Rivera grabbed the officer’s radio and removed it from the officer’s belt, keeping the officer from calling for help or updating the other responding officers,” police wrote in the statement. “A bystander helped to push Mr. Rivera away from the officer.”

Rodriguez was able to get onto his feet and ran across Water Street, police said. The officer followed and, after a struggle, got Rodriguez back on the ground.

But several members of the group tried to get in the way, police said.

“Mr. Rivera kicked the officer in the hands and chest to prevent him from handcuffing Mr. Rodriguez,” police wrote in the statement.

Eric Rojas, 23 of Spencer, started to punch the officer in the back of the head, police said.

As backup arrived, additional officers saw Rojas punching the officer on the ground, according to police.

“The first assisting officer grabbed Mr. Rojas and pulled him back, and Mr. Rojas turned and began to fight with the assisting officer,” police wrote in the statement. “As they struggled, a K-9 officer arrived to help, and the K-9 delivered a bite to Mr. Rojas’ calf.”

Rojas was then placed in handcuffs.

The first officer placed Rodriguez in handcuffs and instructed police backup to arrest Rivera. The struggle continued until the police wagon arrived to take the suspects to the station, police said.

A crowd formed during the chaos.

Then, a man identified as 20-year-old Miguel Diaz of Worcester, was screaming at the officers and approaching them as they struggled with the three suspects, according to police.

An officer tried to keep the crowd back and Diaz shoved that officer, police said. Diaz was then arrested.

All four men are facing charges and will be arraigned in Worcester District Court.

Rodriguez is charged with disturbing the peace, being a disorderly person, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer.

Rivera is charged with disturbing the peace, being a disorderly person, resisting arrest, assault and battery on a police officer, disarming a police officer (radio) and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (shod foot).

Rojas is charged with disturbing the peace, being a disorderly person, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer. He received medical treatment for the K-9 bite.

Diaz is charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer and intimidation of a witness.