Violent Confrontation in Sydney's Southwest
A police officer with just months of experience faced a terrifying attack when a man allegedly stabbed him with a 50cm long sword during a routine welfare check in Sydney's southwest. The 28-year-old probationary constable was part of a four-officer team responding to reports of an apprehended violence order breach at a Grasmere property on Friday evening.
Dramatic Escalation and Emergency Response
The situation turned violent almost immediately upon police arrival at the Werombi Road home around 5:20pm. Superintendent Paul Condon revealed that officers attempted to subdue the 20-year-old suspect using multiple tactical options including taser and OC spray, but none proved effective. The man then allegedly launched a spear at officers before charging at them with the massive sword, striking the probationary officer in his upper right leg.
The injured officer received a 20cm gash to his upper thigh that required immediate life-saving first aid from his colleagues. His fellow officers applied tourniquets to control the bleeding before he was airlifted to Liverpool Hospital in serious but stable condition. The officer remains hospitalized awaiting surgery.
Aftermath and Serious Charges
The alleged attacker was eventually subdued with a taser and taken into custody. Police later seized a concerning arsenal of weapons from the scene, including a knife, hatchet, and spear. Superintendent Condon described viewing the body-worn camera footage as "extremely confronting" and praised the bravery of all four officers involved.
The 20-year-old suspect, who was known to police and had previous history of being armed, now faces eleven serious charges including two counts of attempted murder and four counts of wounding a person with intent to resist arrest. He was refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
Condon emphasized the dangerous nature of police work, stating that officers face violent situations daily and that this incident "escalated extremely quickly." He credited the quick thinking of the responding officers with preventing a potentially tragic outcome.
