Philly police: Unruly crowd surrounds officers, throws objects at them, injures at least one
A 30-year-old man and others hit one officer several times, including in the face, which resulted in a cut in his mouth, police said.
Police said they arrived at a North Philadelphia intersection for a report of a person with a gun early Sunday morning and were met by a crowd of more than 100 people who surrounded officers and threw objects at them.
According to police, a few people assaulted an officer several times and one person hit a police sergeant.
When officers arrived at Front Street and Allegheny Avenue in the Kensington section about 2 a.m., police said, they saw people attempting to park on sidewalks, “driving erratically,” and throwing objects at each other and at police already there. Officers tried to disperse the crowd, but it only grew and began blocking traffic and surrounding police.
Officer Tanya Little, a Police Department spokesperson, called the scene “terrifying.”
A 30-year-old man and others began hitting one officer several times, including in the face, which resulted in a cut in his mouth, police said. That officer, who was not identified, broke away and saw the same man hit an unidentified sergeant twice on the back of the head. The officer suffered hand and wrist injuries while handcuffing the man, police said. He later sought medical treatment.
Once inside a police vehicle, the man struck and kicked the windows and doors, damaging both doors, police said.
He was arrested and charges against him were pending, police said Sunday afternoon. Police have not identified him.
The 3100 block of North Front Street showed no signs Sunday afternoon of what police said occurred there earlier. Residents of the area were out enjoying the spring weather. The block hosts a nightclub, restaurants, and convenience and grocery stores.
The police officers’ union said “several” officers were treated and released without major injuries. John McGrody, vice president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, said the episode highlights several issues that the union is concerned about, including what he said were ongoing staffing shortages and a lack of support for police.
“It’s never been tougher to be a Philadelphia police officer, and this is very concerning to us,” McGrody said. He said the union is particularly worried as the city heads into the summer months, when violence increases.
Staff writer Jonathan Lai contributed to this article.