A fight among people who were drinking in an apartment on St. Paul's East Side early Tuesday ended with one man dead and another arrested at the scene, police said.

Sgt. Paul Paulos, a spokesman for the St. Paul police, said Tuesday that police were not considering the death a homicide, but did confirm that there was a physical dispute that didn't involve weapons.

A 50-year-old man is being held in the Ramsey County jail in connection with the death.

"I can tell you this, that there was some drinking involved, that there was a dispute between known parties," Paulos said. "They were having a [good] time with each other. Things probably got out of hand. We'll find out here later what truly transpired."

Paulos identified the dead man as Joseph M. Saros, 43, of St. Paul. Saros did not live at the apartment.

The Ramsey County medical examiner's office is conducting an autopsy to determine how Saros died.

Paulos said police were called to the 700 block of East 3rd Street in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood about 1 a.m. to assist fire department medics who were responding to a report of an unresponsive man.

Details involving the circumstances that prompted the fighting were not released Tuesday.

Saros' family couldn't be reached Tuesday afternoon for comment.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact St. Paul police at 651-266-5650.

paul.walsh@startribune.com 612-673-4482