AMITYVILLE, NEW YORK - A Suffolk County police officer was stabbed while attempting to make an arrest of two individuals who were allegedly looking into parked vehicles in a driveway.
According to ABC7, the incident happened on Gibbs Road on Tuesday night, May 6th, around 12:30 a.m. Police responded to a 911 call about two men looking into parked vehicles and found one man hiding underneath a black pickup truck in a driveway. As officers were attempting to remove the suspect, he slashed one officer in the face and stabbed him in the groin.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said in a statement, "Initially he was observed on one side of the car, he kind of shimmied under the car, they met him on the other side. When they attempted to place him into custody, he immediately emerged with a knife and that's when the officer was slashed and stabbed."
After a brief struggle, 22-year-old Steven Vasquez was arrested and upon searching him, a pocketknife was recovered. Police also arrested 19-year-old Marcelo Martinez nearby. The injured officer, a four-year veteran, was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip. He was released later in the day and is expected to make a full recovery.
Vasquez has been charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, menacing a police officer, and grand larceny. Martinez has been charged with possession of burglar's tools and criminal possession of stolen property.
The Suffolk Police Benevolent Association (PBA) released a statement saying, in part, that officers continue to face "great peril as they work to protect the life and property in Suffolk County." PBA President Lou Civello said, "This is yet another case of a violent perpetrator attempting to kill a Suffolk County Police Officer and almost succeeding. I commend these Officers for their bravery and quick action."
In a separate incident, a man with a long criminal history that is suspected of stabbing a San Jose police officer during a confrontation Tuesday morning, May 6th, is now facing multiple charges, including attempted murder. According to CBS News, the incident stemmed from a disturbance at the Target store on the 500 block of Coleman Avenue around 9:50 a.m.
Police said that a 911 caller told officers that an intoxicated male suspect armed with a machete pointed the weapon at security. When the first officer arrived in the area, police said the suspect brandished another knife before fleeing across Autumn Parkway into an open field. Two other officers pursued the suspect on foot.
As the suspect fled the scene, he reportedly dropped the machete. During the foot chase, the officers attempted to take the suspect into custody after he slipped and fell. The suspect then stabbed one of the officers in the upper arm. Police said the suspect continued to resist arrest, but was eventually disarmed following what they described as a "significant struggle."
The injured officer was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries that were not life-threatening. The officer, who has about two and a half years' experience on the force, underwent surgery. Police Chief Paul Joseph said, "Every day, our officers put themselves in harm's way to protect others. This violent attack is a stark reminder of that reality. We're grateful our injured officer is expected to recover, and thankful he was able to intervene before anyone else was harmed."
The armed suspect was identified as 41-year-old Eli Scott. He was treated at a local hospital and after being released from the hospital was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder of two police officers, violently resisting arrest, assault with a deadly weapon, and brandishing a weapon. Police confirmed that Scott has an "extensive criminal history."
According to ABC7, the incident happened on Gibbs Road on Tuesday night, May 6th, around 12:30 a.m. Police responded to a 911 call about two men looking into parked vehicles and found one man hiding underneath a black pickup truck in a driveway. As officers were attempting to remove the suspect, he slashed one officer in the face and stabbed him in the groin.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said in a statement, "Initially he was observed on one side of the car, he kind of shimmied under the car, they met him on the other side. When they attempted to place him into custody, he immediately emerged with a knife and that's when the officer was slashed and stabbed."
After a brief struggle, 22-year-old Steven Vasquez was arrested and upon searching him, a pocketknife was recovered. Police also arrested 19-year-old Marcelo Martinez nearby. The injured officer, a four-year veteran, was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip. He was released later in the day and is expected to make a full recovery.
Vasquez has been charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, menacing a police officer, and grand larceny. Martinez has been charged with possession of burglar's tools and criminal possession of stolen property.
The Suffolk Police Benevolent Association (PBA) released a statement saying, in part, that officers continue to face "great peril as they work to protect the life and property in Suffolk County." PBA President Lou Civello said, "This is yet another case of a violent perpetrator attempting to kill a Suffolk County Police Officer and almost succeeding. I commend these Officers for their bravery and quick action."
In a separate incident, a man with a long criminal history that is suspected of stabbing a San Jose police officer during a confrontation Tuesday morning, May 6th, is now facing multiple charges, including attempted murder. According to CBS News, the incident stemmed from a disturbance at the Target store on the 500 block of Coleman Avenue around 9:50 a.m.
Police said that a 911 caller told officers that an intoxicated male suspect armed with a machete pointed the weapon at security. When the first officer arrived in the area, police said the suspect brandished another knife before fleeing across Autumn Parkway into an open field. Two other officers pursued the suspect on foot.
As the suspect fled the scene, he reportedly dropped the machete. During the foot chase, the officers attempted to take the suspect into custody after he slipped and fell. The suspect then stabbed one of the officers in the upper arm. Police said the suspect continued to resist arrest, but was eventually disarmed following what they described as a "significant struggle."
The injured officer was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries that were not life-threatening. The officer, who has about two and a half years' experience on the force, underwent surgery. Police Chief Paul Joseph said, "Every day, our officers put themselves in harm's way to protect others. This violent attack is a stark reminder of that reality. We're grateful our injured officer is expected to recover, and thankful he was able to intervene before anyone else was harmed."
The armed suspect was identified as 41-year-old Eli Scott. He was treated at a local hospital and after being released from the hospital was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder of two police officers, violently resisting arrest, assault with a deadly weapon, and brandishing a weapon. Police confirmed that Scott has an "extensive criminal history."
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