Police are investigating after an officer was reportedly injured while trying to disperse a crowd of more than 500 people who had gathered in North Philadelphia early Sunday, officials said.
According to police, the officer — whom officials have not identified — had responded to the 1300 block of N. Broad Street at about 1:46 a.m. Sunday, where hundreds of people and their vehicles were allegedly gathered.
While working to disperse the crowd, law enforcement said, the officer was hit by a vehicle, “causing a broken ankle.”
Authorities said the vehicle that hit the officer fled the scene, while he was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated.
According to police, “a couple of officers were injured” during the incident, but all were treated and released.
However, this was not the only incident where police officers worked to disperse the crowds overnight, officials said.
The crowd gathered throughout the afternoon
According to police, on Saturday night at 8 p.m., officers dispersed a crowd in the 5700 block of Tacony Street in Northeast Philadelphia.
Then, a little less than an hour later, at 8:50 p.m., police officials said officers responded to the Philadelphia Mills Mall, where they were working to disburse another crowd.
And again at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, police officers worked to disperse another crowd at the intersection of Byberry Road and Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia.
There were no injuries in those other incidents, authorities said.
The reaction of the police union
In response to these injuries, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 President John McNesby shared a statement telling elected officials in Philadelphia that the city’s curfew is “not working.”
“Another violent weekend in Philadelphia and not a word from our elected leaders to address this illegal behavior or support our rank-and-file police officers. By early morning, more than 500 people had gathered along Broad Street in North Philadelphia and blocked the road. Two Philadelphia police officers were injured as one leg dispersed during a second leg at the office. The city’s curfew is apparently not working and it is time for elected officials to call out this disturbing and illegal behavior,” McNesby said in a statement. “The rank and file officers are working tirelessly to stay ahead of this crime epidemic without the support of elected leaders. Enough is enough.”
