A man is facing charges after punching an RNC officer after an incident at a restaurant in downtown St. John’s.

Officers were called to the business on Water Street just after 7 p.m. where staff were holding the man down due to his irate behaviour.

The 68-year-old fled the scene before police arrived, but he was found just up the street.

As police were conducting their work, the man decided to punch one of the officers in the chest.

He was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer and two counts of breach of release order.