NSW Police charge man after officer was allegedly stabbed in the head in Sydney CBD

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A NSW Police Officer has been praised for his bravery for chasing down a man who'd just stabbed him in Sydney’s CBD. Police say the attack on the young constable was unprovoked and have charged the man allegedly responsible with intent to murder.

Transcript

00:00 Police Constable Elvis Poer is lucky to be alive and heading home to his mum and dad.

00:07 He's doing fine considering what happened to him.

00:10 This is the 35-year-old officer yesterday afternoon in Sydney's CBD,

00:15 chasing a man who police say moments earlier stabbed him twice in the back of the head.

00:21 Police allege 34-year-old Okan Erzkan was carrying two knives when he stabbed the officer.

00:27 Constable Poer pursued him despite suffering a fractured skull.

00:32 His colleague eventually tazered the offender on a footpath.

00:35 I think it's amazing that they had their wits about them to chase that offender.

00:41 Police say Constable Poer was doing a routine traffic stop when he was attacked from behind.

00:47 He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital but his injuries were not life-threatening.

00:51 All I can say is God was on his side.

00:54 The alleged offender is facing two charges of wounding with intent to murder

00:59 and custody of a knife in a public place.

01:02 Police are now trying to determine a motive.

01:05 Okan Erzkan's court matter was brief.

01:08 He didn't appear and his lawyers didn't apply for bail.

01:11 He'll remain in custody to face court again in July.

01:15 Police bosses have praised their officer's bravery.

01:18 I'm very proud of the actions of all officers involved in yesterday.

01:22 I said how on earth did you get up and then chase that perpetrator

01:27 because that's what I was trained to do.

01:29 Extraordinary, extraordinary.

01:31 Constable Poer is already thinking about getting back on the beat.

01:35 He actually wants to get back to work but he's not allowed.

01:38 He wanted to go back to Brisbane.

01:40 Instead he'll recover with his relieved family.

01:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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