A suspected shoplifter stabbed a St. Paul officer in the chest with a screwdriver Monday evening — knocking off his body camera — though the blow was fully deflected by the officer’s armored vest, police said.

Police were called just after 8 p.m. to the Lunds & Byerlys grocery store at 115 E. 10th St. in downtown St. Paul, after store employees saw the woman shoplifting.

An officer providing security while working off-duty at the store confronted the 23-year-old woman, and an altercation ensued.

According to police, the woman took out a screwdriver and stabbed the officer, but the blade didn’t penetrate his vest.

The officer suffered a cut to his arm before other officers arrived and helped to handcuff the woman, police said. Neither the officer nor the woman required medical care.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of felony assault.