ST. LOUIS — A city police officer suffered a broken hand while trying to arrest a 17-year-old boy armed with a gun Sunday night near Seventh and Olive streets downtown, police said.

The incident occurred about 8 p.m. after officers saw multiple boys smoking marijuana, carrying bags and loitering in front of several closed businesses near the intersection, police spokesman Mitch McCoy said.

When officers left their vehicles to approach the boys, one started running and an officer chased him, McCoy said. He said when the officer attempted to detain the boy, the boy resisted and during the struggle, the officer fell back and broke his hand.

Other officers helped arrest the boy, who had a loaded gun with an extended magazine, McCoy said. He was being held Monday by juvenile authorities. McC

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