A Maryland State Police trooper is recovering after he was assaulted with a knife while responding to a traffic crash early Saturday.
The suspect in the assault is in custody and authorities said they believe he attacked in an attempt to get the trooper to use deadly force against him — a situation known as “suicide by cop.”
Police said Trooper Byron Tribue responded to a report of a traffic crash on the inner loop of the Capital Beltway near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge at about 6:30 a.m. Saturday. A man had called the Forestville Barrack to report that he had been involved in a single-car accident, police said; officers later found that the man’s car had struck a guardrail.
When Tribue arrived at the crash scene, the man was outside of his vehicle and walked toward the trooper. The man, identified by police as 54-year-old James A. Howard, of Hyattsville, approached the passenger side of the car and Tribue asked Howard if he was hurt.
When Tribue turned around, Howard allegedly ran to the driver side of the patrol car and brandished a kitchen knife with a 7-inch-long blad, according to police. He then began attacking Tribue through the open car window, police said.
Tribue, who was still in his vehicle, suffered stab wounds to his hand, but was able to use his radio to call for help.
While the assault was taking place, a citizen saw what was happening and jumped on Howard’s back. That let Tribue escape and avoid further injury, police said.
State troopers and Prince George’s County officers arrived and subdued Howard, and the citizen left without identifying himself to police.
Police said Howard is believed to have initiated the assault to provoke an officer into using deadly force. He is being evaluated at Fort Washington Hospital. Criminal charges are expected to be filed against him.
Tribue has been treated and released from the hospital. He has been on the force for a year and half.
