Man arrested for stabbing off-duty NYPD cop

A Manhattan resident has been taken into custody after allegedly stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer during a confrontation over stolen perfume from a car in a Long Island neighborhood. The incident unfolded in the early hours of the morning when two off-duty officers spotted the suspect, Royal Hooks, 27, entering a parked vehicle in a Lindenhurst neighborhood.

Upon being confronted by the officers, Hooks attempted to flee the scene, prompting a chase that lasted several hundred yards. During the struggle that ensued, Hooks allegedly stabbed one of the officers in the leg before being subdued by the off-duty cops. The officers managed to hold him down until backup arrived to make the arrest.

Evidence from the altercation, including a knife and scattered items from the scene, was recovered by police. Hooks was found to have stolen perfume from the parked vehicle, leading to charges of second-degree assault and petit larceny being filed against him. The injured officer was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.

Hooks, a resident of the Lower East Side, is expected to be arraigned in Central Islip District Court. His connection to the Lindenhurst neighborhood remains unclear. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers, even when off-duty, in the line of duty.