VIDEO: Watch Off-Duty Cop Assaulted At California Mall On Black Friday Trying To Prevent A Phone Theft

Black Friday shopping turned violent in California when an off-duty police officer was attacked by a group of teens accused of stealing a woman’s phone.

The attack occurred at the Bay Street Mall in Emeryville, California, outside of Oakland around 8 p.m. Two teens, ages 14 and 16, were arrested Monday by the Emeryville Police Department while authorities continue searching for the other six allegedly involved.

The incident began when a woman approached the group of teens and accused them of stealing her phone while shopping.

“She confronted them asking for her phone back,” Emeryville Police Detective Jaime Pardo told Oakland FOX affiliate KTVU. “During the confrontation, the juveniles got aggressive with the victim and began to assault the victim.”

As the group assaulted the woman, an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer spotted the commotion and quietly tried to take pictures. A girl in the group spotted the officer and turned the group’s attention to him. They quickly surrounded the officer and assaulted him as the officer attempted to escape.

“It was a melee. It was chaotic. It was a really scary situation,” the officer said. “It should have never gotten to this point.”

The chaotic incident was caught on mall security cameras and quickly made its way online.

Mall security swarmed the scene attempting the break it up as some of the teens continued punching the officer. The officer told reporters he didn’t draw his gun and it was his girlfriend who told security he was an off-duty officer.

“I think this just came down to me not being able to look away and let this happen,” the officer said. “I saw this young lady and she was going to be in a very bad situation.”

The officer reportedly suffered several bruises, a concussion, and a broken finger as a result of the assault.

Authorities have asked the public to provide any information about the other teens reportedly involved.