An East Boston man who police were going to cite for drinking in public instead ended up facing much more serious charges of two counts of assault and battery on a police officer.

Boston bicycle cops were patrolling the Common at around 7 p.m. Friday and, according to the Suffolk District Attorney’s office, saw a man walking around with a liquid they believe to be alcohol, which he tried to conceal when he caught a glimpse of one of the officers. The officers told him to stop but he allegedly tossed the bottle in the trash and, when they caught up with him, allegedly provided a false name and said he didn’t have an ID.

Police say the man, later identified as Isaias Plaza, then tried to make a break for it but an officer grabbed his sweatshirt, causing Plaza to fight two officers. During the action, a silver pistol containing six rounds allegedly fell from Plaza. Police say he also had a baggie with a substance “believed to be crack cocaine.”

Plaza, 23, of East Boston, was arraigned at central Boston municipal court Tuesday on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm in commission of a felony, possession of ammunition without an FID card, resisting arrest, possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance, drinking of alcoholic beverages in public, and two counts of assault and battery on a police officer.

Judge Eleanor Sinnott ordered that Plaza, who already had an outstanding warrant from this court and another from Chelsea District Court, be held on $20,000 bail and scheduled a probable cause hearing for June 15.