Police identified the suspect as Nelson Bermejo-Fumero. Body camera footage released by the department shows Bermejo-Fumero resisting arrest and fleeing from officers inside the mall.
"During that struggle, one of our officers sustained an injury and the suspect was able to temporarily escape from the officers," said Lt. Joseph Blei of the Abington Police Department.
Authorities say Bermejo-Fumero was accused of stealing women's clothing and other items from the department store. After escaping the initial confrontation, he was later captured in a residential area close to the mall.
Police body cam video shows officers ordering Bermejo-Fumero to the ground during the arrest. "Get down on the ground - hands behind your back," one officer is heard saying.
Despite a request from police for $5,000 cash bail, a judge released Bermejo-Fumero without requiring payment.
"So the reason for the officers' bail request of $5,000 cash was because the suspect doesn't have any ties to the area," Blei said. "He claimed to be from New York and we wanted to ensure he showed up for his next hearing."
Investigators are looking into whether Bermejo-Fumero may be connected to other similar incidents, though police say they have not encountered him before.
"I know that some of these details can be alarming to the public," Blei said. "We want to assure them that our officers are working hard every single day to ensure that crimes like this get solved."
Bermejo-Fumero is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 1.