A Philadelphia police officer is recovering from stab wounds to the stomach after robbers attacked the off-duty patrolman Monday night while he jogged in his East Torresdale neighborhood.
Officers in the 8th district rushed to the 4800 block of Grant Ave. near the Torresdale train station at about 10 p.m. when the off-duty cop requested an “assist,” said Officer Tanya Little, a police department spokeswoman.
The victim, whose name was not released, reported that he was walking or running in the street when he felt someone pull on his sweatshirt. When he turned, he saw two robbers, one of whom demanded his valuables.
The victim surrendered his iPod, then pulled out his wallet and showed the assailants his police badge, Little said. The suspects still took $60 from him, then ran westbound on Grant Avenue. The officer chased them. When he caught up to them, a “physical altercation” occurred, during which one of the men stabbed the officer twice in the abdomen, Little said. The suspects fled.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and took the victim to Aria Health-Torresdale, where he was stabilized, treated and released. Chief Inspector Scott Small described one suspect as a white man, 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet tall, with a scruffy beard and a gray hooded sweatshirt. No description was available of the second suspect. Call 215–686-TIPS or text to PPD TIP to report information about the case. ••
