Anchorage Police Officer Stabbed During Spenard Struggle

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An Anchorage police officer was stabbed in the leg and received a cut to his forehead early Monday morning, during a Spenard struggle with a knife-wielding man who wouldn't drop his blade until his hand was hit with a baton.

APD spokesperson Lt. Dave Parker says police were called to an apartment complex on the 1400 block of West 25th Avenue just after 2 a.m. As Officers Keo Fujimoto and Nathan Keays began to pat down a suspect in the disturbance, 47-year-old Edward Thompson, he spun around and pulled a knife out of his pocket.

“In the ensuing struggle for control of the weapon, Thompson stabbed (Fujimoto) in the leg, and wounded him on his forehead with the edged weapon,” Parker wrote in a Monday statement. “(Fujimoto) also received multiple abrasions. (Keays’) external vest carrier was sliced near his neck by the knife wielding suspect.”

Officer George Vrablik arrived to assist as Fujimoto and Keays struggled with Thompson, who wouldn’t let go of the knife until Keays was able to draw his baton and strike Thompson’s hand to make him release the weapon.

Fujimoto and Thompson were taken to a local hospital. Fujimoto received stitches to close the wound in his leg and Thompson was treated for broken bones in his hand, after which both were subsequently released from the hospital.

Thompson has been arrested and charged with first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree attempted assault, resisting arrest and fourth-degree criminal mischief. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon, at which time bail will be set.