Police broke up a fight Saturday afternoon on State Street that erupted after a man was seen choking a young woman.

According to a Madison Police Department incident report:

A fight broke out between Herbert Wilkins, 53, and Eric Wink, 30, at the corner of State Street and Gilman Street at roughly 3:45 p.m. Saturday.

The confrontation began when Wink spotted Wilkins pushing and choking a 19-year-old girl.

Wink intervened in the struggle to help the young lady, but ultimately escalated the situation by tarring Wilkens with racial slurs.

MPD officers noticed the scene while on patrol near the 500 Block of State Street and promptly intervened.

Wink was heard repeatedly yelling “white power” and various other racial epithets directed at black people.

Wilkens resisted when officers attempted to arrest him, calling the police “the devil,” thrashing his arms and spitting on officers more than two-dozen times.

Both men were taken into custody and charged.