A Maryland state trooper was stabbed in the hand after responding to a call for a traffic crash this morning on the Capital Beltway, authorities say.
A Good Samaritan stopped to help the trooper fight off the attack.
Police say the suspect, James A. Howard, 54, of Hyattsville, Md., called police around 6:30 a.m. to say he'd just had a single-vehicle crash on the inner loop of I-495, on the southeast side of the Beltway.
When Trooper Byron Tribue arrived, Howard approached on the trooper's car on the passenger side. But when Tribue turned to get his hat from the back seat, Howard ran to the driver's side and began attacking the trooper through the window with a kitchen-type knife with a seven-inch blade, Maryland State Police say.
The trooper was able to make an emergency call for backup and tried to fight off the attack while still in his car. Around the same time, a passing driver stopped and jumped on the back of the attacker, giving Tribue time to get out of the car and escape further injury.
Police backup arrived shortly after, and the Good Samaritan left the scene without identifying himself.
Trooper Tribue was treated at a local hospital and has been released.
Howard is currently under guard by state troopers at a local hospital, where he was taken for an evaluation.
Police obtained an arrest warrant charging Howard with first- and second-degree assault, second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer in the performance of his duties, wearing/carrying a dangerous/deadly weapon with intent to injure, and attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer. The warrant will be served when Howard is released from the hospital.
