Appleton Police have reported that a man is in custody after he attacked an officer with a knife.
The officer was on patrol yesterday morning at around 2:15 am, when he noticed that a vehicle had been following him for “an extended distance.”
The officer made his way back to the station, and informed his colleagues of the situation, and they discovered reports of a similar situation in other places.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but when the driver fled, they did not pursue him due to the lack of any serious offences taking place.
About two hours later, the same officer who was followed previously got out of his squad car at the station, and noticed the car nearby, and a man standing near the employee entrance.
After attempting to put some distance between himself and the man, the suspect, 49-year-old Troy J. VanGrinsven of Kaukauna, charged the officer, stabbing him multiple times with a “kitchen style knife”.
Other officers jumped on VanGrinsven and took him into custody.
One other officer was also cut during the scuffle, but both officers were treated and released from the hospital.
VanGrinsven was also taken to the hospital, and will be sent to jail once he is released.
Police are requesting charges of Attempted 1st Degree Intentional Homicide and Battery of a Police Officer.
