Five Taunton Police Officers Sustain Injuries in Suspect Encounter

TAUNTON (WBSM) — Five Taunton Police officers sustained injuries Tuesday night after an incident with a knife-wielding suspect.

According to police, officers pulled over a vehicle for a moving violation at about 6:45 p.m. on September 26 in the area of 716 County Street. They said the driver was cooperative with police, but that during the stop, a second motorist pulled alongside and began shouting at the officers.

They said the two drivers were not affiliated with one another.

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The motorist who was shouting then sped away from the scene in a 2010 gray Honda Accord, police said, but officers did not pursue him.

Another officer spotted the Honda a short time later operating in an unsafe and reckless manner, police said. The officer attempted to pull the vehicle over, but police said the driver fled and nearly struck an officer approaching the vehicle.

The officer pursued the suspect, until he crashed the vehicle into the entryway of a multi-family home on West Britannia Street, which was later determined to be the suspect’s residence. He ran into the building and officers followed in pursuit.

Once inside, the suspect allegedly pulled out a knife and began waving it at the officers, slashing two of them.

Police Chief Edward Walsh, who lives nearby, arrived on the scene and the suspect then allegedly swung his knife at Walsh, who suffered a puncture wound to his torso.

Walsh tasered the suspect, and he was placed into custody at 7 p.m., about 15 minutes after his initial encounter with police.

“One officer sustained serious slash wounds, including injuries to the face and back of his head. He was taken by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital for treatment. A second officer was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment for knife wounds,” police said in a release. “Chief Walsh was treated and released at Morton Hospital. Two additional officers sustained injuries during the apprehension of the suspect and were treated Tuesday evening at Morton Hospital.”

The suspect now faces a number of felony charges and is currently being treated at a local hospital. His name is not being released at this time, although police said he is someone who is known to them. They said there is no danger to the community.