PHILADELPHIA - A shoplifting suspect who allegedly assaulted an officer inside a South Philly pharmacy on Tuesday night has been arrested.
He was arrested near 28th and Morris Streets. He reportedly has 22 prior arrests and is 42 years-old.
Lt. Douglas Stanford of the 1st District was attacked shortly before 6 p.m. at the Rite Aid store located at South 15th Street and West Moyamensing Avenue.
Stanford, a 29-year veteran of the department, suffered two broken ribs and a bruised lung. He was upgraded overnight from critical condition to stable condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Police said the man was inside the Rite Aid store for roughly 30 minutes. Employees said they spotted him putting candy bars into his backpack as well as some over-the-counter medications.
Stanford approached the man, tried to put handcuffs on him and they got into a scuffle that began inside the store, moved outside and then wound up back inside, police said.
That's where eyewitnesses tell police the man essentially body-slammed the lieutenant to the ground and landed on top of him.