Off-duty Phoenix police officer seriously injured in fight with alleged shoplifting suspect

Officer recovering after fight with suspect in South Phoenix

Phoenix Police say a suspect fought an off-duty officer after trying to shoplift from a store, landing both of them in the hospital.

PHOENIX - An officer was seriously hurt after a man began to fight with them after allegedly shoplifting in South Phoenix.

What we know:

Around 3:47 p.m. on March 13, an officer working off-duty in full unform approached a man, later identified as 33-year-old Devontae Lashawn Stockdale, who was shoplifting near 24th Street and Baseline Road. 

The suspect was asked to return the stolen items and leave the business. According to police, when the officer tried getting the items, Stockdale tried running out of the store, leading the officer to chase after him.

"During the struggle, the officer was pushed to the ground and injured his leg," Phoenix Police said. 

Dig deeper:

Stockdale was detained by other officers nearby, and taken to a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. Meanwhile, the officer was also taken to a hospital with a serious but non-life-threatening injury.

Police said that Stockdale was released from care, and was booked on aggravated assault charges related to the incident. 

Map of the incident location.