LINCOLN - The conviction of former Husker cornerback Alfonzo Dennard highlights the chaos police face outside Lincoln's downtown bars at closing time.

That's the message to be sent, Lancaster County Attorney Joe Kelly said Wednesday, after a jury convicted Dennard of assaulting a police officer.

Kelly said the assault involving Dennard last April was one of 142 reported within a one-block radius of 14th and O Streets during 2012. There are more than a dozen bars in that area.

"It shows what a difficulty it is for police to manage that situation day to day, to keep everyone else safe ... and to keep themselves safe," he said.

After deliberating about six hours Tuesday and Wednesday, a Lancaster County District Court jury found Dennard, 23, guilty of third-degree assault of an officer and resisting arrest in the April 21 incident, which occurred in downtown Lincoln's bar district after 2 a.m. closing time.