JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is investigating after police said an officer was attacked at a downtown bus stop Friday morning.
Police said 48-year-old Randall Bavle walked up behind an off-duty officer, V. McMillan, at a bus stop on West State Street across from the Florida State College at Jacksonville downtown campus about 9 a.m. and tried to stab him with a small kitchen knife.
McMillan was standing on the west side of the JTA terminal at 201 Union St. watching the bus/pedestrian traffic at the station. He had his full uniform on and was working for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority at the time.
JSO Sgt. A. Webb said he noticed Bavle walk up behind McMillan and begin to stab at the officer's back with a knife in an overhand motion.
Webb reacted by pushing McMillan aside as he shouted, police said. They said Webb then stunned Bavle with a Taser, and the two officers then arrested him.
A witness told police while he was standing by Webb and McMillan, he heard Webb yell, "Watch out!" He witnessed as Webb pushed the other officer aside. The witness said he looked over and noticed the suspect stabbing McMillan from behind, and the witness stepped aside and saw Webb deploy his Taser.
Another witness told police that he was sitting on the bench waiting for his bus when he saw the suspect walk up behind the officer and start trying to stab him in the back.
McMillan said while he was standing, he could feel the impact of something or someone hitting him on the back. He said it felt like the impacts were hitting him on the top part of his protective bulletproof vest, which is why at first he wasn't sure what it was. He said that when Webb pushed him aside, he realized that the suspect had been striking him in the back with a knife.
The suspect later told a paramedic on the scene, "I wanted the cop to kill me," according to police.
After viewing surveillance, police said it appears the Bavle stalked the officer prior to the stabbing, waiting for the right time to stab him.
McMillan was not injured.
Sgt. Dinardo Robinson said he believes Webb did the right thing.
"The sergeant used good restraint, because it is crowded, so that was a good judgment call, in my opinion, for the officer to have," Robinson said.
Bavle was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. He was recently released from prison after serving time for armed robbery.
Bavle was taken to a hospital for evaluation, then was to be released into police custody. Police believe he may have mental issues.