A Pennsylvania state trooper was punched in the face early Monday morning while trying to break up a brawl inside Rivers Casino, according to authorities.
Security officers and a trooper stationed in the North Shore casino responded to the gaming floor at 1:07 a.m. after seeing a fight on the surveillance system, according to state police.
As they were trying to break up the scuffle, the trooper was punched in the face by Brianna Lynne Grabowski, 26, of McKees Rocks, who investigators said was trying to hit a woman identified as Saida-Amira Witherspoon, 44, of Pittsburgh.
Investigators did not say if the trooper suffered an injury as a result of being struck.
Multiple state police and Pittsburgh police units responded to the scene to assist with the incident, investigators said.
One of the people involved in the fight, James Lamont Domek, 33, of McKees Rocks left the casino before troopers could question him.
Another man accused of fighting, Darnel Robert Hall, 33, of Pittsburgh was taken into custody, police said.
While being escorted to the casino’s security office, police said Hall became agitated that Domek left the scene and punched three holes in the drywall and then punched a block.
Hall was taken to a nearby medical facility to treat his hand injury and subsequently transported to the Allegheny County Jail, police said.
Charges are pending against Grabowski, Witherspoon, Domek and Hall, police said.
Tony LaRussa is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tony by email at tlarussa@triblive.com or via Twitter .