Another Rochester police officer was assaulted while responding to a call Friday, according to the police department.
It happened just weeks after the stabbing of Officer Denny Wright.
The Rochester Police Locust Club released information about the alleged assault on social media, hours before the police department released details.
“I think that it was important that first of all a message go out that it happened, up until that point when we had tweeted out that message, there hadn’t been no comment or mention of it from the department that an officer was attacked, was injured and was in a life threatening battle at one point,” said Rochester Police Locust Club Secretary Adam DeVincentis.
Police said the incident happened while officers were responding to a 911 call for drug activity on First Street. During the encounter, the suspect allegedly hit the officer causing his radio mic to break free, losing all communication with supporting officers.
The incident escalated to a foot chase that ended on Miller Street with the officer and suspect fighting for several minutes.
Police said the officer was treated and released from a local hospital with minor contusions and scrapes.
The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Jemet Flores of Rochester.
Flores was arrested on an outstanding warrant and charged with attempted assault in the second-degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh-degree, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration in the second-degree.
The police union said this is a transparency issue and wants the police department and city to recognize that this happens to officers daily.
“This is occurring, that people are driving cars at them, that people are pushing them down, and people are tackling them and fighting them if that message doesn’t get out there. I don’t think people would think the job is as dangerous as it is,” DeVincentis said.
The Locust Club claims 102 officers have been injured from on-duty incidents, as of October 17. They said most injuries are caused by suspects. The union says this number is likely higher because some officers are injured, but not to the point where a claim is filed.