BUFFALO TWP — A Freeport mother and daughter face hearings later this month on felony charges stemming from a shoplifting-related call that turned violent and left a township police officer injured.

Police said Lauren Birkmeyer, 20, assaulted Patrolman Daniel Ambrose about 4 p.m. April 27 outside the Giant Eagle at Buffalo Plaza where moments earlier he had stopped her mother.

According to court documents, employees recognized Kelly Birkmeyer, 45, from a previous shoplifting incident at the store and notified police.

In that prior case, police allege the elder Birkmeyer on April 16 stole a shopping cart full of groceries. When Ambrose tried to detain her April 27, she pulled away and walked back to her car.

Police said Ambrose had to physically restrain the woman, whose daughter had accompanied her to the store.

The officer recounted that as he tried to handcuff Kelly Birkmeyer, the younger Birkmeyer “charged” at him, documents said.

Lauren Birkmeyer “ran into” Ambrose and grabbed for his handcuffs, according to the officer’s affidavit.

Freeport and Saxonburg police were called for backup and eventually the defendants were arrested.

Ambrose suffered a minor injury to his left thumb, police said.

Lauren Birkmeyer was arraigned on a felony charge of aggravated assault and misdemeanor charges of simple assault and obstructing the administration of law.

Kelly Birkmeyer, 45, who police say has at least three prior shoplifting convictions, was arraigned on a felony charge of retail theft and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.

Each defendant is free on $5,000 unsecured bail. Both face preliminary hearings May 20 at the office of District Judge Sue Haggerty in Saxonburg.