Man Slashes 2-Year-Old, Injures 2 Cops In Main Street Home: NRPD

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Tragedy was narrowly avoided after a violent crisis at a Main Street home.

Shortly before 5 a.m on Thursday, New Rochelle police were called to a 4th floor apartment at 361 Main St. on a report of a dispute.

At the apartment, police were told that a 43-year-old man was inside with a 2-year-old child, and that the man, who was "high on drugs," had a knife.

The officers encountered the suspect laying on the floor of the apartment, holding the child and holding a knife. The man had blood on his face, according to police.

The man was later identified as Lavon Mott of New Rochelle.

While trying to de-escalate the tense situation, officers saw the knife fall from Mott's hand as he grasped the child closer to him, according to police reports.

Officers told the 43-year-old to release the child, but he refused.

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When the officers moved toward Mott, he tried to pick the knife up again. Officers then used tasers and physical force to stop him from getting the knife and to free the child. Even after being tased, Mott kept struggling with the officers, officials said. Police were able to handcuff Mott and take him into custody.

The child, who sustained a 2-inch laceration to the head, was taken to the hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

Two New Rochelle police officers were injured in the struggle. One suffered a small laceration to the face and hand, and the other a laceration and bruise to his hand. Both officers were treated and released from the hospital and are out on injured leave for the time being.

Investigators said Mott had entered his ex-girlfriend’s apartment while high on drugs and the child he was holding was not his.

Mott is charged with felony burglary, unlawful imprisonment, felony assault, reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, felony menacing a police officer, resisting arrest and felony criminal possession of a weapon.