A man hit a uniformed NYPD cop over the head with a plastic stick on Monday in a brazen attack that happened on a busy street in broad daylight.
The officer was investigating a robbery in Queens at around 11:50 a.m. when he was approached from behind and assaulted, the NYPD said.
In widely shared footage of the shocking incident, the cop is seen standing on the sidewalk at the crime scene taking notes by some broken glass when a man carrying two long white sticks creeps up behind him.
The assailant then whacks the officer, causing him to double over in pain while holding his head.
“What happened?” a passer-by asks, as the perp calmly backs away, turns and takes off across the street.
Another uniformed cop and a man dressed in civilian clothing are then seen setting off in pursuit of the suspect.
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Akeele Morgan, 25, of the Bronx, was apprehended not far from the scene on 39th Avenue, near Prince Street in Flushing, police said.
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He was charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
The detective suffered a gash to his head and a whip mark, according to his union.
A motive for the attack is not yet known.
“Once again, New Yorkers witness just how emboldened violent criminals are,” Detectives’ Endowment Association President Paul DiGiacomo said in a statement.
“If there’s anyone wondering why this happened, they can ask their elected officials who have created a city of no consequence for criminality.”