A masked man desperate to evade police sucker-punched a cop in Harlem Thursday — but didn’t make it far before he was cuffed again.
Startling footage showed the moment a repeat offender straddling a Citi Bike dealt a vicious blow to an NYPD officer in the crosswalk at Amsterdam Avenue and West 147 Street just past 4 p.m.
The man — identified by police as 45-year-old Evan Guerrero of Harlem — was apparently complying with the two officers and had his hands placed behind his head after he was stopped for a possible crime in progress.
The balaclava-wearing Guerrero can be seen looking over his shoulder before spontaneously delivering a blow to the male officer’s face and running off down West 147th Street.
He only made it to the curb, however.
The two cops immediately pounced on Guerrero, dragging him to the ground in front of a corner store, the video shows.
Guerrero can be seen continuing to escape — even losing a shoe in the process — but was ultimately subdued with the help of seven other officers who arrived as backup.
The unnamed cop whom Guerrero allegedly punched could be seen wiping his face where he was struck and checking for blood while holding down his assailant.
Police said the officer sustained “pain, bruising and a fracture.”
Guerrero was charged with assaulting a police officer.
Officers found he was carrying “graffiti instruments” inside his backpack in the leadup to his arrest, according to police.
The NYPD said Guerrero has eight prior arrests that include making graffiti, possession of graffiti instruments, criminal mischief and bail jumping.
