APPLETON (NBC 26) -- Police say an Appleton police officer was stabbed with a knife, after being ambushed in the parking lot of the Appleton Police Department early Tuesday morning.
According to Appleton Police, around 2:17 A.M., an officer, in a marked squad car, saw a vehicle following him for an extended distance. The officer drove toward the police department and notified other officers. Police say officers were advised of the vehicle being previously involved in similar activity in a different jurisdiction.
An attempt was made to stop the vehicle. The driver fled but officers did not pursue the vehicle because of the lack of any serious charges.
Then, about two hours later, police said the officer, followed earlier in the night, was in the parking lot of the Appleton Police Department when he saw a car parked across the street that looked similar to the car that had followed him earlier.
The officer saw a man standing near the employee entrance to the police department. When he tried to speak with him, police said the man attacked him. Police said the man stabbed the officer several times with a kitchen-style knife. The officer fought back and brought the man to the ground.
Several other officers stepped him to help subdue the man, police said, and take him into custody. Police said one of the other officers involved also suffered a cut, from the suspect's knife, to one of their hands.
The male was taken to a local hospital for treatment. When he is medically cleared, police said he will be placed in jail. The man was identified as Troy J. VanGrinsven, a 49 year-old male from Kaukauna. The officer’s names will not be released. Both officers were medically treated and released.
