Two Philadelphia officers hurt as driver flees North Philadelphia traffic stop, police say

A man wanted on outstanding warrants escaped from officers in North Philadelphia on Saturday evening, injuring two of them as he sped off with a handcuff on one wrist, according to 6abc Action News. Police are still searching for him.

FOX 29 Philadelphia placed the incident near the 300 block of East Erie Avenue at roughly 5 p.m. on Halloween. CBS Philadelphia separately reported that an officer hit by a vehicle that day was hospitalized.

Inspector D.F. Pace told 6abc that a 24th District officer pulled a car over for traffic infractions at about 4:55 p.m. When the officer ran the vehicle's information, it turned up warrants for the driver, and police handled the situation as a felony vehicle stop. Backup arrived, among them a lieutenant.

Based on police accounts given to 6abc, officers had gotten a cuff around one of the man's wrists before he wrenched loose and climbed back behind the wheel. He then accelerated while officers tried to keep him there. The car hit one officer, who was knocked down, and the lieutenant ended up on the pavement as well.

Reports differ on the number of injured officers. 6abc, citing Pace, reported two. FOX 29 and CBS Philadelphia each referred to a single officer being hit. FOX 29, relying on the Philadelphia Police Department, said that officer belonged to the 24th District and was brought to Temple University Hospital.

The injuries appeared minor in every account. Pace told 6abc the two officers had abrasions and road burns, with no apparent broken bones, and both were likely to go home after treatment. FOX 29 said the same about the officer it reported on. No injured officer has been named.

Investigators know who the driver is, police said, but are keeping his name private because the case remains open, 6abc reported. It is unclear whether the cuff is still on his wrist.

When FOX 29 published, police had not described the vehicle or explained how the officer came to be hit. FOX 29 also noted an unrelated case a day earlier, in which a stolen car hit an officer during a traffic stop on Germantown Avenue; two minors were taken into custody in that case.

Police continue to investigate Saturday's incident.

Compiled by True News from reporting by CBS Philadelphia, 6abc Action News and FOX 29 Philadelphia. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/658