An Owensboro man charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing an Owensboro Police Department officer in the face had his case waived to the Daviess County Grand Jury Wednesday. Though the charges initially made will stick, 31-year-old Harold Sanders, Jr., had his bond lowered from $2 million to $100,000 full cash.
The incident occurred Sept. 20 in the 700 block of Walnut Street. OPD officers responded to a disturbance call made by Sanders’ mother and uncle, who claimed Sanders was causing a scene by throwing items in the front yard of their home.
During Wednesday’s arraignment, an officer representing OPD told District Court Judge Misty Miller that Sanders was already in custody by the time he arrived at the scene that day. According to his statement, he didn’t speak with the injured police officer until he visited him at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.
Two officers attempted to arrest Sanders, telling him he had a warrant out for his arrest. According to testimony, when one of the responding officers attempted to grab Sanders’ other hand, he fell over and felt something hit his cheek, not yet realizing he’d been stabbed in the face.
The officer representing OPD said his injured colleague sustained a large gash on the left side of his face that ran from his cheekbone to his neck. Though it wasn’t a life-threatening injury, the gash required several stitches and the officer was in the hospital for a number of hours before being released.
Detectives secured a switchblade open knife that belonged to Sanders, with an estimated four-inch blade.
“Several bystanders who were standing outside witnessed [the event] as well,” the witness said.
Sanders was additionally charged with second-degree disorderly conduct because he wasn’t supposed to be at the house where the arrest took place. He was also charged with resisting arrest and his outstanding warrant.
Sanders was described as “high-risk” by deputies who were on site with Sanders at the Daviess County Detention Center, and he left the room in the middle of his arraignment before Miller made any determinations about his case.
The hearing carried on without Sanders, and his defense attorney questioned the attempted murder charge. The attorney asked the officer representing OPD who provided testimony if Sanders had made any statements at the scene saying he’d intended to commit murder.
According to the officer, the attempted murder charge was valid based on where Sanders had stabbed the responding officer, as well as Sanders having allegedly said in the past that if the injured officer ever arrested him again, he’d fight him.
“It just so happened to be the same officer who responded the second time,” the officer said.
Miller determined that the deadly weapon used by the defendant served as probable cause in showing Sanders’ attempt to commit murder against the police officer. While County Attorney Claud Porter said the charges would not be reduced, the defense attorney asked that Sanders’ $2 million bond be set to $100,000 full cash.
Because of the nature and location of the injury, Miller turned the case over to the Daviess County Grand Jury. A presumptive plea of not guilty was made on Sanders’ behalf.
