Two Upper Southampton Police Officers Injured

Three shots from police tasers were not enough to subdue a man who allegedly attacked three police officers, injuring two of them, Sunday night.

Upper Southampton Chief of Police Ron MacPherson said Sergeant Michael Jones and Officer Fred Williamson were injured after being dispatched on a call to assist a man dealing with mental health issues.

According to MacPherson, when the officers arrived at the home on Stephenson Way, they found a 34-year-old man sitting in the dark, pretzel-style, with a screw driver and a flashlight in his hands.

Police are not releasing the man's name at this time.

MacPherson said the officers were injured when they tried to subdue the man after he lunged for a cabinet that held several swords and other types of martial arts weapons.

According to MacPherson, the officers believed the man had planned to either hurt them or himself, leading them to employ the taser. 

The first tase did not work and police fired the weapon again; however, the man was not subdued by the second jolt of electricity either, the chief said.

MacPherson said the man then ran out of the house where he was tased a third time and finally taken into custody, but not before a physical altercation with Officer Ryan Hand.

MacPherson told Patch it is not uncommon for a person who is having an adrenalin rush to be unaffected by a taser gun. According to multiple law enforcement websites, the average taser gun carries between 20,000 to 100,000 volts.

The chief said the two officers were taken to Doylestown Hospital, where they were treated then released a short time later.

Officer Williamson is back on duty after being treated for a bite wound and a cut on his face. Sergeant Jones remains out of work due to a wrist injury he suffered during the incident.

Police report the man was also taken to Doylestown Hospital for an evaluation.  

Charges are pending as the Bucks County District Attorney's Office reviews the incident.