The gun discharged as the officer engaged in a struggle with a man who was trying to rob him in Patchogue Friday night, police said.<\/p>\n
No one was hit by the gunfire, but the officer and the man accused of attacking him, 21-year-old Timothy Frederique, were treated at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center for minor injuries suffered in the struggle, police said.<\/p>\n
Police said the officer was walking home from the Patchogue train station on Jennings Avenue when Frederique attacked him from behind at about 10:15 p.m. Frederique, of Brentwood, attempted to steal the officer\u2019s backpack, police said.<\/p>\n
The officer identified himself as a cop, reached for his weapon and at that point, Frederique also went to grab the officer\u2019s gun, police said.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when the struggle ensued and the gun was discharged, police said.<\/p>\n
The officer was held overnight at the hospital. Frederique was treated and released.<\/p>\n