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The front door of the Miller Avenue home swung open and 42-year-old Richard Karcz man came running at Officer Emanuel Degenerro wielding the 9-inch knife over his head, Police Chief Michael Foligno said.
Degenerro disarmed Karcz and got him into handcuffs with help from a colleague. He was then taken to New Bridge Medical Center for an evaluation.
He was then taken to the Bergen County Jail, where he remained held Sunday, charged with first-degree attempted murder of a police officer, as well as aggravated assault and illegal weapons possession.
Karcz -- whose record includes a 2015 arrest on a drug charge -- was busted this past March by Fair Lawn police who said he got into a DWI crash at Broadway and 30th Street. He was illegally carrying prescription medication at the time, they said.
On Saturday, Karcz “fabricated the 911 call in order to lure the officer to the residence in order to stab [him],” Foligno said, noting that no one else was home.
“I am thankful that a situation that absolutely warranted the use of deadly force on the officer's part resulted in only the use of physical force, resulting in no injuries,” the chief said.
“Officer Degennaro should be and will be highly commended for his courage and amazing restraint during a life and death situation,” Foligno said.
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ALSO SEE (VIDEO): Three suspects were arrested in Paterson in the mistaken-identity stabbing death of a 15-year-old boy in the Bronx, authorities confirmed Sunday night.
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