Off-Duty Cops Who Halted Hollywood Stabbing Shy From Praise

Two off-duty New York Police Department officers who subdued a man who had stabbed and slashed a Russian tourist in Hollywood said today they appreciate the praise coming their way, but were in the right place at the right time and did what’s expected of them.

Detectives Dan Mulligan and Albert Ramos were off-duty but in the area on official business when they intervened in the attack about 1:10 p.m. Wednesday at the Hollywood & Highland shopping, dining and entertainment center.

They had just stepped out of a Starbucks at the facility at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue when they saw what was happening and sprang into action, they told ABC7 in an exclusive interview before returning to New York today.

“I heard a woman screaming on the promenade, up on the concourse, and she ran past us with her two children and she ran back to what we saw was a fight in progress and she came back screaming again,” Mulligan told the station.

“Al went to the left, I went to the right. The victim came toward me. Al yelled a police command, ‘Get on the ground. Drop the knife.’ Thank God he complied immediately and it was over in a matter of seconds.”

They had no handcuffs, but used a zip-tie supplied by a construction worker to bind the suspect, later identified as 54-year-old Donald Offerman, until Los Angeles police arrived.

With the suspect subdued, the officers then turned their attention to the victim.

“It looked bad at first, I just hoped it wasn’t the jugular, and thank God, I believe it wasn’t because he’s still alive today,” Mulligan told the station while describing a 4- to 5-inch long and 1 1/2-inch wide neck wound.

The 25- to 30-year-old victim, who had been shopping with his family, was taken to a hospital in stable condition, police said.

Offerman was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, said Los Angeles Police Department Officer Aareon Jefferson.

Offerman was being held at the LAPD’s Hollywood Station in lieu of $500,000 bail, according to sheriff’s online inmate records. No court date was immediately set.

New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio was made aware of the officers actions and expressed appreciation for their heroism and pride that they are from the NYPD.

“I don’t think we are heroes. I think we did our job,” Ramos said. “We definitely appreciate it. It feels good to get a pat on the back every once in a while.”

City News Service