Police: Theft suspect maces cop in Port Richmond Target store

A theft suspect maced a police officer who attempted to arrest him in the Port Richmond Target store Monday afternoon, police said.

Cops said the officer, who was working an overtime detail at the store on Castor Avenue near Richmond Street, was trying to apprehend a man who had stolen from the store when the man pulled out mace and sprayed the officer. The suspect escaped, police said, and the officer was taken to Episcopal Hospital to be treated. He was expected to be released Monday night.

Police described the assailant as a white or Hispanic man about 6 feet 2, bald with a full beard and a full sleeve tattoo on his right arm. He also has tattoos on his left arm and wore a white and blue polo shirt and three-quarter length blue jeans, police said. He fled west on Castor Avenue in a purple minivan.

Police said the injured officer is assigned to North Philadelphia's 25th District, where Officer Edward Davies was shot and wounded last week during a confrontation with an armed suspect.

Tipsters should contact police at 215-686-TIPS (8477).