Moment female cop is punched in the face by Starbucks thief

An off-duty detective was forced to defend herself in a Starbucks after a man allegedly hurled food and fists her way.

Shocking footage shows the moment an off-duty detective was forced to defend herself after a man threw food at her inside a Starbucks in New York on Friday.

The 39-year-old female police officer was on her way to work when she saw a man inside the store in Manhattan’s Midtown allegedly stealing food, according to The New York Post.

She then showed him her NYPD badge and walked him out of the store, but he came back and threw food at her, according to the footage and authorities.

The brawl shows the man throw a punch at the undercover detective. Picture: The New York Post

He then takes a swing at her head, with the officer immediately taking a fighting stance on the footpath.

The man then lunges towards her with his fists, and the officer gets punched in the face.

The pair then engage in a short brawl before the man eventually scurries off – turning around momentarily and threatening to come back.

The police officer suffered a welt next to her eye, according to police, and was treated at the scene.

Mohamed Riad, 27, was taken into custody and faces charges of assault, criminal mischief, and petty larceny related to the incident, according to a criminal complaint.

The officer was forced to take a fighting stance and defend herself. Picture: The New York Post

The officer was lauded by the detective’s union.

“It’s no surprise to see an off-duty NYPD detective put themselves in harm’s way to protect New Yorkers,” Detectives Endowment Association President Scott Munro said.

“It’s what these courageous women and men do every day for our city,” he continued.

“We will do everything we can to make sure this violent criminal is held accountable.”

After a short brawl, the man walks off. Picture: New York Post

Mr Munro also criticised a Democratic mayoral candidate who proposed that social workers could manage calls related to the homeless.

“This is why social workers can’t do police work,” he stated. “What would they have done with him?”

The police officer suffered a welt to her face and was treated at the scene. Picture: iStock

Riad pleaded not guilty at his court appearance on Friday night and was held on $1000 ($A1517) cash bail.

It wasn’t clear whether he would be able to make bail.

According to The Post, assaults on New York City police officers have increased by 63 per cent over the past six years.

There were 970 assaults on uniformed police in the city up until May this year, compared to 595 officers attacked by this stage in pre-Covid 2019.

Originally published as Moment female cop is punched in the face by Starbucks thief