A chaotic afternoon in Port Hueneme turned into a life threatening emergency after a police officer was stabbed in the face by a suspect. The incident occurred on Thursday, January 8, in the 100 block of Willowbrook Drive. Officers were initially called to the residence around 4 40 p.m. to assist Ventura County Behavioral Health staff who were attempting to work with a man at the location.
Confrontation Leads to Officer Involved Shooting
The situation quickly turned violent while officers were on the scene. According to the Port Hueneme Police Department, the man suddenly attacked one of the responding officers, stabbing them in the face. In response to the assault, an officer involved shooting occurred. The sound of gunfire echoed through the residential neighborhood, leaving neighbors shaken as a massive police and fire response swarmed the area.
Both the injured officer and the suspect were treated at the scene by paramedics before being transported to local hospitals. As of late Thursday evening, both were reported to be in stable condition. The identity of the suspect and the specific type of weapon used in the stabbing have not yet been released, as investigators are still processing the scene on Willowbrook Drive.
Ongoing Investigation into the Use of Force
The Port Hueneme Police Department has launched a multi agency investigation into the incident, which is standard procedure for all officer involved shootings. This probe will examine the circumstances leading up to the stabbing and the subsequent decision to use lethal force. Detective Sergeant Mike Hamrick is leading the investigation and is asking anyone who may have witnessed the struggle or captured video of the event to contact the department.
This violent encounter underscores the unpredictable nature of calls involving behavioral health crises. Local authorities are using this incident to emphasize the importance of having law enforcement present during high risk mental health interventions. While the officer is expected to survive the facial injury, the department has noted that the physical and psychological impact of such an attack is profound. More details are expected to be released once body camera footage is reviewed.