`MOB' ATTACK ON COPS YIELDS RIOT CHARGES

Four bicycle officers found themselves surrounded by an ``angry mob''
Tuesday afternoon after checking on a man suspected of smoking
marijuana near a southside park, police said.

The officers were doing a routine check of Mirasol Park, near South
Kino Parkway and East Silverlake Road, just after 2 p.m. when they
spotted Victor Clark, who they believed was smoking pot, said Tucson
police Sgt. Brett Klein.

``They were talking to the individual when someone came out of a
nearby house and began to physically interfere with the arrest,'' Klein said.

Between 10 and 12 people came from the house, in the 1000 block of
East 28th Street, and the nearby park and began to assault the
officers, Klein said.

``They were punching at them and spitting,'' Klein
said.

Responding to the officers' call for backup, about 15 more officers
arrived to get the crowd under control, Klein said.

Clark was not arrested on drug charges, but he was one of four people
who were arrested on various other charges, ranging from inciting a
riot to aggravated assault on a police officer. Both are felonies.

Arrested were: Clark, 19, on suspicion of inciting a riot and
hindering prosecution; Stephanie Clark, 17, on suspicion of aggravated
assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, hindering prosecution
and criminal damage; Janeece Oneal, 16, on suspicion of resisting
arrest and hindering prosecution; and Anthony Clark, 16, on suspicion
of aggravated assault on a police officer and inciting a riot.