The officer was hospitalized in stable condition after the late-night attack near 10th and Brown streets in North Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — An off-duty Philadelphia police officer was assaulted and robbed late Thursday in North Philadelphia, leaving him injured and prompting an investigation into a personal firearm that police said was stolen during the attack.
The assault happened shortly before midnight Sept. 10 near North 10th and Brown streets, according to police and local news reports. Investigators said the officer became involved in an altercation before he was physically attacked. Police were working Friday to determine what led to the confrontation and to account for the firearm taken from the officer.
Police found the officer with cuts to his head or face and abrasions on his legs and feet, according to accounts of the preliminary investigation. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and was reported in stable condition. Authorities did not publicly identify the officer.
CBS Philadelphia reported that the officer had been leaving CDD Beer and Chinese Food, a takeout restaurant near the intersection, when he was attacked. The officer called 911 after the incident, the station reported. Police sources told CBS that the stolen weapon was the officer’s personal firearm rather than his city-issued service weapon.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the area as they tried to identify people involved in the assault. Chief Inspector Scott Small told NBC10 that police apprehended a man they believed was involved after matching him to surveillance footage. Other reports said several people identified in connection with the incident were detained for questioning.
Accounts of the investigation differed Friday on how many people remained in custody or were still being sought. 6abc reported that one person was in custody and another was being sought, while KYW Newsradio reported that several people had been taken into custody for questioning. Police had not publicly announced charges in the case in the reports reviewed.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation remained unclear. Police had not released the name of a suspect, a detailed sequence of the altercation or information establishing why the officer was targeted. Authorities also had not announced that the stolen firearm had been recovered.
The missing gun remained a central part of the investigation because it had been taken during the assault and was still unaccounted for in the latest reports. Detectives continued reviewing evidence and working to determine the roles of the people involved before any charging decisions were announced.
The investigation remained active as of Saturday. Police had not released additional information about possible charges or confirmed the recovery of the officer’s firearm.
Author note: Last updated September 12, 2026.