Springfield police searching for man and woman accused of assaulting officer at Walmart
Police are searching for two people who are accused of assaulting a Springfield Township police officer as he attempted to prevent a theft Tuesday night at a Walmart store, according to the police department.
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The officer, who was providing store security, received non-life-threatening injuries following the 9:50 p.m. confrontation at the Arlington Road store, police said. He was not hospitalized and did not miss work for his injuries.
Police are seeking a 24-year-old woman and 34-year-old man on charges that include assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
Confrontation escalates at Walmart
A Walmart employee alerted a Springfield Township officer at about 9:50 p.m. to a woman and a man concealing merchandise, according to an incident report.
The employee told the officer he saw them putting items in a purse and wearing unbought clothes before attempting to leave the store without paying, the report states.
As the two made for the exit, the officer blocked the doorway and told them they were under arrest for theft.
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Security footage provided by Springfield police shows the two approach the officer as the woman searches her purse. The officer reported in police documents that he believed she was searching for a weapon.
After telling her to stop, the officer can be seen seizing her purse and tossing it to the ground before grabbing her forearm. He then pulled her toward the door to block the exit. That's when the male suspect rab for the door on the officer's left side before running to his right side. At the same time, police say the woman tried to break free.
Footage from Walmart shows the male suspect charge the officer, hitting his left side and pushing all parties through the door and outside the range of the camera.
The report states the man struck the officer in the back, knocking him to the ground and causing him to let go of the woman.
The two suspects then ran and fled the scene on a motorcycle, police said.
Following the scuffle, the officer's uniform was "irreparably" torn, officials said. He received abrasions, or "road rash," on both knees.
Store merchandise, suspected drugs found in suspect's purse
Upon searching the woman's purse, police found a pocketknife, store merchandise and a folded-up piece of paper containing what police believe to be heroin, according to the report. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is testing the substance.
Also found were two hypodermic needles, a tourniquet, mini cotton balls and flame torches, police said.
Anyone with information related to this incident can contact the Springfield Township Police Department at 330-733-1061.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Springfield police search for suspects accused of assaulting officer
