A San Jose police officer was stabbed early Saturday morning while doing a welfare check in the 3500 block of Ambra Way in the Berryessa foothills. The officer was not seriously wounded and the man accused of doing the stabbing, a 33-year-old San Jose man, was taken into custody.
Two officers responded to a 12:30 a.m. call from a man who said he was having a mental health crisis. The officers, both of whom had Crisis Intervention Training, had just begun to speak with the man when he allegedly, without provocation, attacked one of the officers.
The pair was able to subdue the man, identified as Sean Williams. One officer then realized he had been stabbed during the scuffle. A knife was recovered at the scene.
Williams, who will face a charge of assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, was taken to Valley Medical Center for treatment and a mental health evaluation. He later was booked into jail.
The injured officer was treated at an area hospital for what police officials described as a “moderate, non-life-threatening injury,” and was released.
Police said the call illustrates the dangers officers face when responding to aid individuals suffering from a mental health crisis. Although both officers were trained in dealing with such issues, the sudden violent attack meant neither had an opportunity to utilize those skills, officials said.
