Female cop in ICU after getting stabbed in the throat, suspect charged, police say

A Hartford, Connecticut police officer was stabbed in the neck while investigating a disturbance, police said. (Brad Horrigan/Hartford Courant)

A Connecticut police officer is fighting for her life after she was stabbed in the throat while investigating a disturbance Thursday morning, officials said.

Hartford police Deputy Chief Brian Foley said the stabbing occurred at Spectra Boutique Apartments. He said the female officer was trying to handcuff a woman during an eviction.

The unidentified officer was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition with stab wounds in her jugular and trachea, police said in an update on Facebook. After coming out of surgery, the officer was in the intensive care unit and said to be in critical/stable condition.

The suspect, identified as Chevoughn Augustin, 39, was taken into custody and later charged with criminal attempted murder, first-degree assault, assault on a police officer and 3rd degree criminal mischief, police said.

Hartford police patrol officers went to an apartment building around 9:40 a.m. after getting a report "of a disturbance involving a female tenant of the building," police said. When they got there, authorities said Augustin was located on the 9th floor of the building.

"At some point during the investigation a struggle ensued and the suspect knocked the officer to the ground, grabbed a large ceramic kitchen knife, placed her in a choke hold and began stabbing the officer in the neck," police said.

The injured officer was able to call for help, police said, meanwhile building management and maintenance workers nearby "heard the struggle" and were able to control and disarm Augustin.

Responding officers got the injured officer to an ambulance and "secured the suspect and knife," police said.

The suspect was taken to a hospital to be treated for hand injuries, police said. She was then brought to the police station, charged and given a $4.5 million bond, they said.

Foley earlier described the maintenance workers who intervened as "heroic," according to the Hartford Courant.

The department credited those workers, saying had they not responded, "this scenario would have been fatal."

Police Chief David Rosado in a statement said it "was a very difficult day" for the department.

"We should always remember the risks that members of law enforcement take every day on our behalf and be grateful to them," he continued. "I also want to recognize the two civilians who helped bring the altercation to a close - their instinctive heroism helped get our officer to the hospital as quickly as possible."

Regarding the injured officer, Rosado said she was a 12-year veteran of the department and is "very well-respected," according to the Courant.

"She's a great officer," he said. "We pray for her recovery."

Mayor Luke Bronin tweeted earlier about the stabbing and asked for the public's "thoughts and prayers."

“This morning, a Hartford Police Officer sustained severe stab wounds while in the line of duty,” he said. “She is in critical condition and we will update the public later today. We ask the entire Hartford community to keep the officer in their thoughts and prayers.”

Bronin has visited the hospital where the officer is recovering, Fox 61 reported.

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy also tweeted saying, "Our prayers are with the HPD officer who was injured in the line of duty this morning. We are sending our best wishes to her for a speedy recovery."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.