WATERVILLE — A Fairfield man is accused of spitting blood onto hospital workers after he was arrested following a fistfight Tuesday night at a local bar.

Akeem D. Howard, 25, of Skowhegan Road, was arrested around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday night at the Temple Street Tavern on Temple Street after the bar staff called police for help in removing him from the bar, according to Waterville police Sgt. Lincoln Ryder.

Howard faces four class D assault charges, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, criminal trespass and criminal mischief, all misdemeanor charges.

When officers Tim Locke and Codey Fabian arrived at the tavern, they heard what sounded like an altercation and went inside to find Howard involved in a fistfight with another patron, Ryder said.

The officer who broke the fight up took Howard into custody. Ryder said Howard was highly intoxicated and uncooperative, threatened officers and tried to prevent them from handcuffing and searching him.

Howard was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Center for Health on North Street for evaluation and treatment of a mouth injury, including a broken tooth, that he suffered during the fight, Ryder said.

While at the hospital, Howard continued to be uncooperative and spit blood onto staff members and onto the wall of the treatment room, Ryder said. Howard also kicked Fabian when the officer tried to take his photograph, according to Ryder.

Two of the assault charges are for spitting blood, which is offensive physical contact, Ryder said. There was an increased risk to hospital staff members because they were dealing with bodily fluids, he added.

“Anytime someone is trying to spit blood in your face, it is not good,” he said.

Howard eventually was treated and later was booked at the Kennebec County jail in Augusta, he said.