A Philadelphia police officer is on the mend following an incident in which a vehicle, reported stolen in connection with an armed robbery, struck him during an attempted traffic stop in North Philadelphia last night. NBC Philadelphia reports that the event took place near the intersection of Front Street and Hunting Park Avenue, as Chief Police Inspector Scott Small detailed, the officer approached the car—the officer was hit and ended up on the vehicle's hood when it reversed.
During the ensuing chaos, not only did the officer sustain injuries, but the suspect vehicle also collided with a Mazda in their attempt to flee the scene which prompted an intense search for the suspects, described by authorities as a man and a woman, described by FOX 29 News and supported by subsequent recovery of the white Honda away from the crash site, on the 1000 block of Ruscomb Street, left abandoned by its occupants.
The officer involved in the perilous incident was rushed to Temple University Hospital, says 6abc Action News, where he was treated for injuries to his arm and knee but was ultimately listed in stable condition; he has since been released, after the vehicle, already mired in traffic, became the stage for a confrontation that saw the officer being forced onto and then off the hood as the suspects made their desperate getaway.
As for the suspects, Chief Inspector Small emphasized that the recovery of the unoccupied vehicle could lead to fingerprints or DNA evidence that can assist in their apprehension; meanwhile, with the area of the incident being cordoned off for investigation, police urge anyone with information to contact them at 215-686-TIPS.
