David Cifarelli
masslive.com
(TNS)
A Taunton police officer who was stabbed in the face and back of the head was among five officers hurt during an incident in the city Tuesday evening involving a knife-wielding suspect, Taunton police said.
The incident started when an officer pulled a vehicle over for a moving violation near 716 County St. around 6:45 p.m. on Sept. 26, the department said in a statement.
During the traffic stop another driver in a 2010 gray Honda Accord, identified only as an adult male who was not affiliated with the stopped driver, pulled up and started shouting at police. The man then sped away. Police, who said he was known to officials, did not pursue him.
Shortly after, another officer saw the Honda driving recklessly. When the officer pulled the car over, the driver fled from police and almost hit an officer who was walking toward the vehicle.
This time police did pursue the vehicle. It crashed into the front of a multi-family home on West Britannia Street, which was the suspect’s home, according to police.
As officers chased the man inside the house, he pulled out a knife and started waving it at police. Chief Edward James Walsh, who lives nearby, responded and was slashed in the chest, police said. He was later treated and released at Morton Hospital.
Taunton PD: one police officer seriously injured with multiple stab wounds; several other officers injured in confrontation with suspect inside a home. Suspect in custody. (Video courtesy Joe Perry) @NBC10Boston pic.twitter.com/HHnJ7PRQui
— Michael Rosenfield NBC10 Boston (@MikeRNBCBoston) September 27, 2023
Another officer sustained serious slash wounds, including injuries to the face and back of his head. He was airlifted to a Boston hospital for treatment, police said.
Another officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment for knife wounds. Two more officers were treated Tuesday evening at Morton Hospital for injuries, according to police.
Police used a Taser device on the man and he was taken into custody around 7 p.m., according to police. The suspect, who is being treated at a local hospital, will face several felony charges, police said. His name was not released by officials. The investigation is ongoing.
©2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
