It was a fairly normal call. Mom was worried about her son’s mental health. May 1, 2008, about 8:30 pm.

Rochester City police officer Robert Osipovitch responded to the call. He found the suspect, and asked him to remove his hands from his pockets.

Also on scene was a Rural Metro ambulance crew, two people including EMT Brandon McCaughey. They would be transporting the suspect if he were arrested for mental health reasons.

The suspect did not comply with the police officer. The officer pulled out pepper spray and asked again. The suspect rushed at Osipovitch and pulled a knife.

The officer used the spray and the two grappled. EMT McCaughey saw the suspect repeatedly stabbing Officer Osipovitch and moved to help.

R News:

I saw the subject pull out the knife in his right hand and started repeatedly slashing the officer on his left side torso and I immediately jumped in, grabbed the subject’s hand with the knife, removed the knife out of his hand, took him down onto the ground,” said McCaughey.

McCaughey says he then grabbed the handcuffs off Officer Osipovitch’s belt and used them on Sterling.

“These guys, they’re out for us, protecting us when we’re out there and I feel I had to do the same thing,” said McCaughey.

Officer Osipovitch was treated and released for a stab wound to the tricep. Another officer sustained a hand injury. McCaughey received some of the pepper spray but otherwise was not injured.

See also the Democrat & Chronicle story