Officer Hailed For Showing Restraint After Knife-Wielding Suspect Charges Him
BOSTON (CBS) – A Boston Police sergeant is being praised for showing restraint in taking down a suspect who charged him with a knife while screaming that he would kill him.
Officers were called to TD Garden just before 10 p.m. on Thursday after witnesses said 20-year-old Michael Garrick was threatening women and security officers near the arena.
Sergeant Detective Mark Vickers arrived first to the area, and said he saw Garrick holding a folding knife.
Police say that when Vickers got out of his car, Garrick charged at him, "screaming that he would kill the officer."
"I took an extra second," said Vickers. "I let him get very, very close."
The sergeant drew his gun and ordered Garrick to drop the knife. Garrick complied and was arrested.
"Taking a life, it's the last thing you want to do," said Vickers. "You have to live with that."
He is charged with three counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and threats.
"I think there's enough people that appreciate us out there," said Vickers. "I think the ones that don't, don't understand us."