Скачать или смотреть Man attacks Centre County police officer with

By: Erin Calandra

SPRING TWP., Centre County, Pa. -- A Centre County police officer said he's thankful for his training after he was able to fight off a man who attacked him with a knife.

Officer Tony Roefaro has been on the Spring Township police force for more than 20 years. During that time, he's gone through a lot of training, some he said may have saved two lives during this incident.

"He was saying he was going to cut my throat, among other vulgar things," said Roefaro.

Roefaro is reliving a deadly situation Tuesday morning.

He said around 9 a.m., he and other officers were called to a domestic dispute in Pleasant Gap.

Officials said a 28-year-old man was having a mental health crisis and was acting violent.

Roefaro said when he got to the home, the suspect just, just about three feet away, raised a sharp knife and attempted to stab him.

"You revert back to training," said Roefaro. "You're not thinking, you're reacting."

Training that Roefaro said paid off.

"I deployed my Taser to protect my life, which was able to subdue him temporarily," said Roefaro.

But shockingly, the man was able to pull the Taser prongs out of his body and take off on foot, escaping through a back door.

Police caught him and took him into custody two blocks away.

Chief Mike Danneker said Taser training likely saved the life of his officer and the life of the suspect.

Police said the suspect will be facing charges.