Philadelphia police believe a teenager accused of committing an armed robbery at a Northeast Philadelphia convenience store also assaulted and injured a responding officer.
The Philadelphia Police Department said the incident began around 4 a.m. near the Parkwood Shopping Center on the 12000 block of Academy Road. A 17-year-old boy was arrested a short time later.
After authorities received a report of a man with a gun in the parking lot, an officer stopped a suspect who fit the description. As the officer attempted to frisk the suspect, a struggle ensued that ended when the officer was reportedly thrown to the ground and the suspect fled on foot.
The officer, whose identity was not released, sustained a laceration to the back of his head and was transported to Aria Torresdale Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. He is assigned to the 8th District and is a 20-year veteran of the force.
About 20 minutes later, the suspect was taken into custody after reportedly hiding behind a business, but a firearm was not located. An investigation allegedly revealed that the teenager also matched the description of a suspect who robbed a nearby 7-Eleven at gunpoint on Sunday around 2 a.m.
The Northeast Detective Division already possesses surveillance video of the robbery but is canvassing the area for footage of the assault.
Chief Inspector Scott Small described the incident to CBS3's Trang Do:
Charges are still pending against the teenager, who was not identified due to his age.