St. Paul police officer Adam Siegfried was acquitted of four misdemeanor counts of assault Monday night by a Ramsey County jury, but convicted of one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct in connection with an incident last year at a holiday party for police.

District Judge Joanne Smith scheduled sentencing for June 30.

Siegfried, 35, a patrol officer in the city's Western District, attended the party Jan. 20, 2008, at O'Gara's Garage with his wife and colleagues. He testified last week that he had about four beers over the course of four hours.

Ryan Smith, 28, an off-duty bartender, came to the back room where the party was being held about 11:30 p.m. to talk to the bartender on duty. He testified that he'd been drinking all day -- a total of eight or nine beers and a couple of shots -- but wasn't "bombed out of my mind."

Siegfried first noticed Smith on the south side of the bar talking to a female officer. He asked Smith to leave, telling him it was a private party. Smith left, then returned. Siegfried again approached and told him to get out. According to Siegfried's testimony, he took Smith's left arm at his bicep and wrist and tried to walk him backward to the door. Smith stumbled and fell but didn't hit his head, Siegfried said. Smith hoisted himself up on a stool or the bar and high-tailed it out of the room, Siegfried said.

Siegfried says he didn't hit or kick Smith. But Molly Michel, a server who was working at the party, said she saw Siegfried punch Smith, then kick him when he was on the ground.

Smith suffered cuts to his tongue that needed 10 stitches.

Smith's friend Dennis Olson, who tried to come to his aid, was kicked in the head four or five times by partygoers, Olson testified.

Defense attorney Earl Gray said Smith bit his tongue when he fell on his rear end. Gray suggested that Smith and Olson were motivated by money. Both have talked to civil attorneys and are considering filing a suit, he told the jury.

He again showed photos of the two men's faces taken soon after the incident that showed no visible bruises or other injuries.

Gray said Siegfried had every right to try to walk Smith out of the party after he was asked to leave and came back anyway. "Whether it's a police party, a Shriner's party, a sewing party, if somebody comes in there drunk, you have a right to escort them out. It's common sense," Gray said.

Lisa Godon, a Minneapolis assistant city attorney, prosecuted the case to avoid a conflict of interest.

Pat Pheifer • 612-741-4992