San Jose police officer stabbed while arresting suspect

SJPD officer stabbed during arrest

The officer was responding to the call of a man walking around with a machete.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - A San Jose police officer was stabbed in the arm Tuesday morning while attempting to take a suspect into custody, according to police.

Initial reports of machete-wielding suspect

What we know:

Officers were called to the area of Coleman Avenue and Taylor Street around 9:49 a.m. after reports of a suspect brandishing a machete at an armed security guard at a business, the San Jose Police Department said.

The suspect tossed the machete and fled on foot.

When officers arrived, they spotted the suspect and tried to take him into custody. During the encounter, the suspect stabbed an officer in the arm, police said.

Emiliano, a worker at the Wing Stop nearby, told KTVU he saw the altercation.

"I saw the security chasing a homeless man, and then two to three police officers at the corner of Target, and they started chasing the homeless man down the street," he said. "They tried to restrain him and then they started beating him with a baton and then all I heard was a police officer was getting stabbed."

Another witness shared a video showing several officers arresting the man.

Both the officer and the suspect suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and were taken to a local hospital.

Locals told KTVU the area is typically a quiet area and the people at the homeless encampment stay to themselves.

A spokesperson for the police department, Officer Tanya Hernandez, said the suspect used another instrument like a knife to stab the officer. The suspect did not use the machete to stab the officer, she said.

"We’re very fortunate that no one else was injured, but we’re also very grateful that our officer is okay," said Hernandez.

Hernandez would not provide additional details on the suspect, but did confirm that he had an active felony warrant.

Officer stabbed, injured in San Jose

A San Jose police officer was injured after being stabbed by a suspect Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Mayor Matt Mahan reacts

What they're saying:

Mayor Matt Mahan was seen with Police Chief Paul Joseph visiting the injured officer at the hospital.

"How many more near misses do we need? Today, I’m praying for the quick recovery of our officer. Every day, I’m advocating for urgent action from the County to expand the mental health and addiction treatment we need," San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement posted to social media.

The Source: San Jose Police Department

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