Police officer is stabbed during scuffle

  • Diana Hefley<br>
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 11:25am

Mill Creek police officer Andrew Bass is recovering at home after being stabbed in the arm.

Two other police officers also were slightly injured during a confrontation with a drunken man early Sunday, Dec. 3, according to police.

The suspect, Stephen P. McClane, was arrested for investigation of attempted murder and two counts of first-degree assault. He appeared briefly Monday, Dec. 4 in Everett District Court, where a judge ordered him jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.

One of McClane’s relatives called police just before 3 a.m. Sunday to report that McClane was refusing to leave his house in the 2800 block of 132nd Street SE. McClane, from Port Hadlock on the Olympic Peninsula, was temporarily staying at the house.

Officers asked McClane, who appeared to be drunk, to come outside.

McClane, 35, initially cooperated with police, Mill Creek Police Chief Bob Crannell said. As the officers began searching McClane for weapons, he reportedly said, “You’re not going to like this,” and pulled a 3-inch serrated paring knife out of his pocket, officers said.

McClane allegedly stabbed Bass in the upper left arm, according to an affidavit filed in Everett District Court on Monday. Bass also suffered a cut on his upper lip, Crannell said.

As Bass went to the ground, McClane, still armed with the knife, allegedly attacked two other officers, Sgt. Mike Reidt and officer Jennifer Clark. McClane reportedly tried stabbing Reidt in the face and head. The officers wrestled McClane to the ground, police reported.

Bass was treated at Providence Everett Medical Center and later released. He suffered a 4-inch cut that is likely to keep him off the job for approximately two weeks.

“He’s fine. He’s home resting,” Crannell said.

Paramedics treated Reidt and Clark for minor injuries. They were expected to return to work “shortly,” Crannell said.

McClane suffered a head injury during the struggle and also was taken to Providence Everett Medical Center, where he was treated and later booked into the Snohomish County Jail.

McClane told police he had been released from jail two days before the assault. He was under supervision by the state Department of Corrections.

“We understand his intentions were to kill officer Bass,” Crannell said during a news conference Monday at Mill Creek City Hall. The chief said he heard the statement from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputy who took McClane to the county jail.

Crannell said he was pleased with the work his officers did during the scuffle. “They were following the procedures they were trained to do,” he said. “The officers should be proud of how they handled the situation. I’m proud of them.

“This could’ve had a more tragic outcome for themselves or the suspect. They used what force they felt they needed to subdue the suspect.”

Crannell, who has been with the Mill Creek Police Department since its inception in 1984, said he doesn’t recall any Mill Creek officer being attacked with a weapon.

Bass, 28, has been with the Mill Creek Police Department since February, 2005. He is newly married.

“He’s done excellent work his entire time here,” Crannell said.

Diana Hefley is a reporter with The Herald in Everett. John Santana is editor of the Mill Creek Enterprise.

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