By Alan Morrell
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Copyright 2008 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — There was no time to think, Brandon McCaughey said, just time to react.
Because McCaughey reacted the way he did, he may have saved the life of a Rochester police officer.
McCaughey, an emergency medical technician with Rural/Metro Medical Service for about a year, grabbed a knife from a man who was stabbing Officer Robert Osipovitch on Thursday at a Gregory Street home. Police and ambulance crews had been dispatched to the home for a reported psychiatric call.
Osipovitch used pepper spray to subdue a man at the house when the man refused to show his hands, then rushed the officer. The man, identified as John Sterling, 28, allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Osipovitch in the left tricep.
As the men continued to tussle, police said Osipovitch’s protective vest spared him from further injury. So, too, did McCaughey’s response.
“I removed the knife from his hand while I was getting a faceful of (pepper spray),” said McCaughey, 21, of Hilton, who described the weapon as a steak knife. “It just happened so quickly, I had to do something. (Police) are out there for us, protecting us. I felt that I had to do the same thing.”
McCaughey even got the handcuffs from Osipovitch’s belt and handcuffed Sterling, police said.
Osipovitch, 26, who has been with the department for one year, was treated at Strong Memorial Hospital, then released. The officer was home recuperating and expected to return to work soon, said Police Chief David Moore during a news conference Friday.
“This could have been fatal, had we not had the intervention,” Moore said. “Deadly force certainly would have been appropriate in this situation. I’m extremely proud of the bravery shown.”
Also injured was Officer Augustin Gonzalez, who suffered a hand injury but was not cut.
Police and ambulance crews were sent to 37 Gregory St. about 8:20 p.m. Thursday for a man reported to have emotional issues, Moore said. They encountered Sterling, who lives at that address, and Sterling’s mother and a male friend who was not identified. Neither the mother nor friend were hurt.
Sterling was arguing with the emergency workers and refusing to remove his right hand from a pocket, McCaughey said. Osipovitch then used pepper spray on Sterling, which led to the scuffle and the stabbing.
“I knew the officer was stabbed. A lot of things were going through my head,” McCaughey said. “I never had this kind of training. After I left, I realized, ‘Thank God, I was not hurt.’”
City police are issued protective bulletproof vests and are advised, but not mandated, to wear them, Moore said. He said he might reconsider that directive.
Sterling, who also was treated at Strong and released, originally was charged with attempted first-degree aggravated manslaughter. The charge later was revised to attempted first-degree aggravated murder. Sterling was arraigned in City Court and was being held in the Monroe County Jail. He could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted.