"On Tuesday, the felony assault charges leveled against Minneapolis Police Sgt. David Clifford were upgraded from third to first degree in connection with the knock-out punch that put a bar patron in Andover on life support. Clifford was charged after throwing a punch at Tanner's Station on June 16, hitting Brian Vander Lee during a dispute over a cell phone conversation. Vander Lee was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for bleeding on his brain. The altercation was caught on surveillance video taken with a cell phone camera, which shows Clifford approaching and punching Vander Lee in the mouth shortly thereafter. FOX 9 News obtained the video and showed it to Cilfford's attorney, Fred Bruno, who said he feels the charges were upgraded in retaliation for his client maintaining his innocence." - 9 news