A veteran vice cop was busted early yesterday for allegedly robbing and assaulting a prostitute before getting into a drunken smash-up while trying to run away, police said.
Detective Anthony Downing, 27, a six-year vet who works in the Manhattan South Vice Squad, allegedly picked up an 18-year-old Manhattan woman in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx at around 4:30 a.m.
Police said Downing had a fight with the woman, who has a record of six arrests for prostitution, punched her and slammed her head into his dashboard.
The woman jumped out of the car and flagged down cops as Downing, who lives in Manhattan, bolted, smashing his Mitsubishi Montero into a car between Manida and Viele avenues, police said.
Downing was immediately suspended without pay. The victim was treated for minor head injuries and released from Jacobi Hospital.
Downing was charged with eight offenses, including robbery, assault, patronizing a prostitute, driving while impaired and leaving the scene of an accident.