A knife-wielding intoxicated man stabbed two San Jose police officers Monday morning, wounding one seriously, as they tried to arrest him near Guadalupe River Park.
Police reported that at 9:49am, two patrol officers responded to a report of a disturbance involving a weapon at a Target store in the 500 Block of Coleman Avenue near Guadalupe River Park in downtown San Jose.
A caller reported that an intoxicated male suspect was armed with a machete, pointing it at security staff, then dropped the machete and fled the scene.
As one officer arrived in the area, police said a suspect brandished a separate knife at the officer, then fled again on foot across Autumn Parkway toward an open field along the Guadalupe River where two other officers pursued the suspect on foot.
Police said the suspect slipped and fell and the officers then attempted to take him into custody. Police later identified the suspect as Eli Scott. During the arrest attempt, the suspect stabbed one officer in the upper arm, causing serious injury, then attempted to stab the second officer while violently resisting arrest, police said, before being disarmed “ after a significant struggle.”
One officer, who was not identified, was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries that were later determined to be non-life threatening, but required surgery. Police said the wounded officer has been in the department less than three years.
Police said Scott has an extensive criminal history. He is being held without bail in the Santa Clara County Jail on charges of attempted murder of two police officers, violently resisting arrest, assault with a deadly weapon and brandishing a weapon.
“Every day, our officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. This violent attack is a stark reminder of that reality,” stated Chief of Police Paul Joseph. “We’re grateful our injured officer is expected to recover, and thankful he was able to intervene before anyone else was harmed.”
"I am extremely grateful for our police officers who continue to keep our community safe with everyday heroics, bravery and courage," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "On behalf of our 7,000 City of San José employees, I want to say to our injured officer, we are wishing you a speedy recovery and thank you for your commitment to the people of San José."
“It is horrifying to imagine walking into a Target and running into a man with a machete,” said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. “Because of the dangerous actions of someone who clearly needed to be behind bars or in secure treatment, a San Jose police officer is in the hospital instead of on patrol. As I pray for his swift recovery, I’m asking: how many more first responders need to be injured before our county and state expand the mental health and addiction treatment facilities we need?”
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective MacInnes #4778 of the San Jose Police Department Assaults Unit via email:
47**@sa*******.gov
or 408-277-4161.
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In a statement, San Jose Police Officers’ Association President Steve Slack said the stabbing suspect was on probation and was wanted on a felony warrant.
“A wanted felon, on probation, attacked and stabbed one of our officers this morning,” said Slack. “If not for the quick response by backup officers who immediately administered first aid, this could have ended up much worse for our injured officer.”
“We pray for the swift and full recovery of our officer,” he said. “We urge our legislators, judges, and the rest of the criminal justice system to put an end to the criminal justice revolving door that continuously puts dangerous criminals back on our streets to further victimize our communities. These criminals belong behind bars, not out on our streets.”
I live less than a mile from the Guadalupe Trail near target, and used to take my kids to ride bikes on the trail and play ball at Columbus Park. We can’t do that anymore, and haven’t been able to for over 5-years now. The area is filled with garbage, fires and from the Target to Columbus Park, hundreds of people – many like the guy cited in this article, just wander aimlessly tweaking. You see people walking with weapons, using drugs and struggling with conditions an apartment won’t fix. It’s dangerous and a lot of crime is consolidated in this area due to the lack of shelter and massive failure of a behavioral health system. The Mayor and City Council and certain Depts talk like they are alleviating the crisis – but it’s not reflected in the districts, like D3, because they concentrate the problem in our communities. It’s extremely frustrating – and not only are our police officers at risk, so is the broader community. I am shocked by how downtown has devolved and the lack of action from the City. I pray for the injured officers and anyone who wants to be shocked – drive by the Guadalupe Trail by the Target off Coleman and/or Columbus Park – it’s almost unbelievable how bad the conditions are.
The emperor has no clothes and almost nobody is brave enough to state the obvious. The media continues to carry water for the establishment and the taxpayer(those who haven’t fled) is treated like livestock in a feedlot.
Officers need to start shooting psychotic violent criminals who represent these sorts of imminent threats. The price for not doing so is just too insanely high. Stop being afraid of leftist violence-embracing commentators.
The title says two officers stabbed, but reading the article it seems like maybe only one officer was actually stabbed. Consider rewording to clarify.
The officers showed incredible restraint in not shooting this subject, who had already stabbed one of them. They certainly would have been within policy and the law had they done so.
No surprise to the folks who live in District 3 near Marketplace Center. Since the redistricting Columbus Park is in District 6. It is remote from residential areas like the Rose Garden and Willow Glen and it is adjacent to District 3. That arrangement makes it difficult for the residents in District 3 to get any relief from the problems Columbus Park presents to them. District 3 residents deal daily with people who are drug addicted or psychotic, and nobody comes to our aid. Walking a dog or a stroller requires constant vigilance. Packages and mail are routinely stolen. Mail delivery is unreliable because there’s huge carrier turnover as people quit or bid out of the St. James station to avoid the problems in the area. Our current City Council Rep and the Mayor don’t respond to our concerns in a meaningful way. I don’t think they ever even show up to see what’s going on.
Man, I’m all for rubber bullets and and or tasers. Light these criminals up like a spastically quivering Xmas tree!
Back before the pandemic, I used to regularly go for a run from downtown SJ up the trail to the airport and back. Sure, there were homeless back then but it wasn’t too bad. I haven’t been on the trail since. Sometimes, I feel like I should give it a go to see how it changed, but whenever I mention it to someone, they warn me to not bother and I won’t get very far, it’s so bad. I might try to bike it instead, again, just to see.