Police determine butler officer stabbed to demise earlier than taking pictures to kill suspect – CBS Pittsburgh

By: KDKA-TV News Staff

BUTLER, Pennsylvania (KDKA) – Police have identified the butler officer, who was stabbed multiple times before shooting and killing the suspect earlier this week.

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Butler Police Chief Bob O’Neill released an update on the officer’s condition on Thursday. The injured officer was identified as Michael Sulerud, a Marine Corps veteran who has been with the department for 3 years.

(Photo provided by Butler City Police Department)

According to the police, Sulerud is still in critical condition and stable. After the alleged attack, he was flown to the hospital and operated on.

“Chief O’Neill believes Officer Sulerud is a man of great integrity and strength and asks for continued prayer during his recovery,” the department said in a statement.

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State Police said the Butler City Police received an 911 call from a man who behaved erratically and jumped in and out of traffic on the 300 block on West Jefferson Street just before 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

Police say Sulerud arrived and immediately met the man identified as 35-year-old John Ebberts. According to police, there was a fight and Sulerud was stabbed several times before taking out his gun and shooting Ebberts.

Ebberts’ husband Joe told KDKA he suffered from mental health problems but was compassionate and loving. He said he wished it would end differently and Ebberts had got the help he needed. He said he does not blame the officer for what happened, but he believes there should be more training in dealing with mental health cases.

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The state police are investigating.