Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - A pair of New York State Troopers that were stabbed during an altercation with a woman at a gas station in the Village of Bolivar this past Saturday are home and recovering from their injuries.
State Trooper James O'Callaghan says the incident started with a neighbor noticing 31-year-old Julia Groff of Bolivar attempting to steal a vehicle from their driveway before taking another vehicle from a neighbor.
"That neighbor took it upon themselves - the neighborhood watched, so to speak - followed that vehicle, called it in. They traveled about 10 minutes South of where the Village of Bolivar was. Ultimately, an open 9-1-1 line, our troopers were able to respond," said O'Callaghan in an interview with WBEN on Thursday. "That stolen vehicle, all we have is female suspect, a slight description, that vehicle pulled into a Crosby's gas station, right at the gas pump, and pulled right in there. The following vehicle, the neighbor, pulled in behind, but we had two troopers blockade that car off.
Troopers Jacob Klock and Michael Rich were the first to respond to the call of the stolen vehicle at approximately 3:25 p.m. That's when both troopers quickly approached the woman, where she violently resisted arrest.
"It was 8-to-10 seconds by the time those troopers were able to start arresting her, but the resisting arrest commenced," O'Callaghan described. "During that time, Trooper Klock was stabbed just above the eye in the forehead area, and almost lost his eye. Obviously traumatic, but a deep enough wound to penetrate the skull, which caused the brain bleed. And this was a hunting knife, so it was a fairly larger knife. At that time, the second trooper, Trooper [Michael] Rich, drew his firearm, was about to take that shot, and she ended up grabbing the pistol and pushing it away from her. The shot went off, did not strike anybody, but ultimately, it never ejected the round, so it's a one shot gun. And at that point, right around there is where Trooper Rich got stabbed on the side of the skull, hard enough to cause a fracture in his skull, and obviously a bubble and a serious injury between the brain and the skull."
Despite the severity of their injuries, both Trooper Klock and Trooper Rich were able to subdue and arrest Groff. O'Callaghan points to the training both troopers had while at the academy that allowed them to battle through their injuries in order to make the arrest.
"These two troopers, [Klock] had nine years, [Rich] had 11. They're very senior troopers down out of SP Amity, so they have a lot of experience," O'Callaghan noted. "But in the academy early on, you're taught to fight through things, and that's why our academy is six months. That's why it's very difficult, because we put you through a gauntlet of different scenarios and hardships. But it prepares you for something like this. Traumatic injuries, but you have to fight to stay alive. If she gets away and we lose a life as a trooper at that scene, what is she going to do next? If she's willing to stab two troopers in the head and steal a vehicle, what would she be capable of to the public? That's why we have to fight through those scenarios."
Both Trooper Klock and Trooper Rich were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester in critical condition, but both have been treated and were released.
"Our Employee Assistance Program is working with their families. We don't expect them back to work anytime soon," O'Callaghan said. "Obviously, there's going to be a time period and multiple doctor visits and checkups to make sure that nothing metastasizes or gets even worse in there, and basically get all that inflammation down and obviously heal up. State Police are working with the two troopers, but the big news is they're out of the hospital, out of that critical condition to more of a support condition at this point."
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O'Callaghan commends the quick actions of the public, as well, assisting the troopers in her arrest.
"We have people coming in, civilians coming in to assist in this arrest. She was extremely resistant to this, and were able to take her in custody with very minor injuries," O'Callaghan said.
"It takes a community to do anything in life. And we always say, 'Our best eyes and ears have always been the community,' and there's nothing more when you're going to help out your neighbor do menial tasks around the yard and stuff like that. So, of course, you're going to call and possibly even follow the stolen vehicle, and then end with people seeing troopers in need, and so they lend a helping hand. And we can never be more appreciative enough doing the job that we do when we try to serve the community the best we can as law enforcement to see that kind of return. And we're very grateful for that."
Groff was arraigned and is facing a number of charges for her alleged involvement in the stabbings, including:
- Two counts of Attempted Murder in the First Degree (Class "A-II" felony);
- Two counts of Aggravated Assault upon a Police Officer (Class "B" felony);
- Two counts of Menacing a Police Officer (Class "C" felony);
- Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree – motor vehicle (Class "E" felony);
- Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree (Class "A" misdemeanor);
- Resisting Arrest (Class "A" misdemeanor);
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (Class "A" misdemeanor).
She was remanded to the Allegany County Jail without bail.