An off-duty police sergeant in Burlington, Vermont, faced a sudden and violent altercation when a man struck with a meat cleaver, and subsequently, a kitchen knife, in the very lobby of the police department. The incident, which quickly escalated, happened around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Eric Jones, 34, of Burlington, was subdued and arrested, as reported by NBC Boston.
The off-duty officer recognized Jones from previous encounters with police. Jones brandished the cleaver without saying a word, charged it overhead in a menacing gesture, according to the police. Amidst the fray that followed, the unnamed sergeant succeeded in disarming the cleaver—only for Jones to pull out a second implements a kitchen knife aimed at the officer's midsection. These details emerged from the Burlington Police Department, but were publicly shared by NBC Boston.
Jones was arrested for aggravated assault after a violent confrontation with a sergeant, during which both their weapons were thrown into a parking lot. Jones, who is autistic and has a history of assault charges, will face court to determine his intent and mental capacity. The sergeant was unharmed, according to WCAX.
