PHA officer injured in North Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) Philadelphia police are investigating an incident that left a housing authority officer injured in North Philadelphia.

The injured 25-year-old PHA officer left Temple University Hospital in a caravan of police cars just before 8:30 Tuesday night, two hours after he was raced there when someone sprayed him in the face during a melee at 25th and Diamond.

"He was sprayed with pepper spray went in both of his eyes. He was unable to see initially," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.

It happened just before 6:30 when police received several 9-1-1 calls about dozens of people fighting in the street in front of a Philadelphia Housing Authority complex.

"Reports of a large crowd fighting, mainly females. We got a call of a possible stabbing. A person with a knife," said Small.

20 PHA police and Philadelphia officers responded to the scene to break up the fight. That's when the young PHA officer fell to his knees complaining he couldn't see. An officer assist call went out and police took the officer to Temple's emergency room where he was treated immediately.