Phoenix Police Shoot Man That They Say Tried To Stab Officer

PHOENIX, AZ – A 49-year-old man was shot by Phoenix police after they say he tried to stab an officer. He was rushed to the hospital with what police say are non-life-threatening injuries.

It happened around 1 a.m. when police arrived at a home near 5300 North 40th Drive. They had already been at the home about 90 minutes earlier when a woman said that her husband, on drugs and hallucinating, was causing problems with neighbors having a party.

Officers talked with the man who promised to remain inside and not cause problems.

Police say he didn't live up to that promise. (Get Phoenix Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. Or, find your local Patch here and subscribe).

When they arrived – the man's wife had called back to say that he was roaming the neighborhood with a staple gun and a knife – they found nearby in an alley off North 40th, just south of West Missouri Avenue.

As they got out of his patrol car, the man put down the staple gun but kept approaching the officers with the knife. He grabbed one of the officers and tried to stab her, according to police.

The officer, who is 24-years-old and has been with the department for two years, was able to break free and fire a shot.

She and her colleague then moved back a little and the man started to charge at them again. POlice say that the officers saw that he was no longer armed and they were able to detain him after a quick struggle.

He was rushed to the hospital where he is expected to survive.

It was the 35th time this year the officers in the Valley have been involved in a shooting.

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