19th district Police Sergeant Robert Ralston suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder at approximately 4:00 a.m. at 56th Street and Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia.
Police say Sgt. Ralston, 46, approached the two suspects at the intersection. One man fled, while the other man ran up an embankment bordering the railroad tracks.
Ralston grabbed the suspect by the shoulder. The suspect turned around with a silver revolver in his hand, and pointed it at Ralston's head. The sergeant smacked the gun away as it went off, the bullet hitting him in the left shoulder.
Police say Sgt. Ralston fired two rounds and possibly struck one of the suspects.
The officer was transported to The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where he was treated and released shortly before 6:00 this morning. By Monday afternoon he was recovering at home.
Ralston focused on these men, police say, because of a recent rash of burglaries at a shopping center just 100 yards from the shooting scene.
"At that time of the day he sees two males that look suspicious, and that's why he stopped them," said Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross.
Police are searching for two men. The gunman is described as a black male wearing a white T-shirt with a tattoo under his left eye and long cornrows. There is no description of the second suspect.
They were last seen fleeing eastbound along nearby railroad tracks.
Sgt. Ralston is a 21 year veteran of the force.
Anyone with information in this case can call police at 215-686-TIPS.
