Boston Replaced Some Cops With Social Workers — One Was Just Attacked By Sword-Wielding Man

A sword-wielding man in Boston attacked a mental health clinician on Saturday after speaking with the worker — who was sent to assist police — for about 40 minutes through a locked door.

The man called 911, claiming that four armed people were trying to harm him. When police officers arrived, they found him behind a locked door and sent a clinician, who spoke with him for nearly 45 minutes while the door remained closed, CBS News reportedMonday. However, as soon as the man opened the door at first responders’ urging, he brandished a sword, swiftly knocked the mental health worker to the ground, and stabbed one of the officers in the arm.

“At some point the officers requested the assistance of EMS and their clinician. … After an extended period of time EMS and the clinician concluded that this person was in some type of immediate need of attention due to certainly suffering from some type of mental health crisis,” Boston Police Department (BPD) Commissioner Michael Cox said in a Saturday afternoon press conference.

“As they asked the individual to begin the process of maybe coming up and keeping the attention they needed, the individual immediately opened the door and struck both the clinician and an officer who was outside the door,” Cox continued. “He was armed with some type of sword, striking, or I should say, stabbing, the officer in the arm, knocking at least the EMS clinician to the ground.”

“One or more officers, under investigation at this time, fired both a Taser and their weapon at the individual, bringing the person to a halt. EMS immediately provided medical attention to the caller … who was taken to area hospitals and treated,” the commissioner added. “Unfortunately, the person succumbed to the injuries.”

WATCH:

When asked for comment, the BPD referred the