A St. Paul police officer responding to an assault call Tuesday night turned on his squad lights and drove into an intersection on a red light, striking a pedestrian who scraped his elbow.

The collision occurred about 9:28 p.m. at Maryland Avenue E. and Clarence Street. The pedestrian, a 64-year-old man, was seen by paramedics at the scene and declined further medical attention.

Sgt. Mike Ernster, a department spokesman, said officer Anulfo Curiel was driving westbound on Maryland Avenue when he stopped for a red light at the intersection of Clarence Street.

Curiel received a call about an assault in progress and turned on his squad's lights. Ernster said a police report about the incident did not mention whether or not the squad's sirens were also activated.

Curiel looked both ways before driving westbound into the intersection, where the front right side of the squad's panel struck the pedestrian, who was in the crosswalk.

The man fell to the street, and Curiel stopped to check on him, Ernster said. Paramedics checked the man at the scene, and he walked away on his own accord after declining further medical attention.

Ernster said that a police supervisor also spoke to the pedestrian, who reported that although he did not have a walk signal, the traffic lights in the direction he was walking were green at the time.

CHAO XIONG