Everett officer in stable condition

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, December 21, 2005

EVERETT – An Everett police officer is in stable condition this morning after being stabbed Wednesday night while trying to subdue an emotionally disturbed man at a downtown apartment building.

He came out of surgery about 12:30 a.m. this morning for a stab wound to his abdomen. His family is with him at Providence Everett Medical Center, Everett Sgt. Boyd Bryant said. The officer is a 23-year veteran of the police department.

A second officer responding to the scene was bitten by the suspect.

Police received a call about 8:55 p.m. Wednesday from the manager of the Hodges Apartment, in the 1800 block of Hewitt Avenue, about a mentally disturbed man living on the third floor.

The resident had caused numerous problems throughout the last couple of days, such as ongoing vandalism in apartments surrounding his, Bryant said.

When police arrived, the tenant wouldn’t cooperate, police said. The tenant then confronted one of the officers with a knife and stabbed him. The suspect then bit the other officer.

The suspect became unconscious as he was being restrained. Bryant was unsure why that occurred. The suspect also was being treated at Colby, Bryant said.

The suspect could face first-degree assault charges, though Bryant cautioned that the investigation had just begun.