By John Burton
FREEHOLD – An Asbury Park police officer was injured yesterday morning during a struggle with a knife-wielding Middlesex County man, that resulted in the man being shot by a second officer as the alleged assailant attempted to grab the officer’s weapon.
Police officer Carl Christie, a 23-year police veteran who has been with the Asbury Park department for 15 years, was stabbed in the torso but his bulletproof vest prevented the knife from piercing his abdomen, according to Charles Webster, a spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Christie suffered lacerations on his right wrist and finger.
Police charged Oswaldo Torres Quiroz, 22, of the Iselin section of Woodbridge, with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, third-degree resisting arrest and a series of weapons charges, according to Webster.
Torres Quiroz sustained a gunshot to the abdomen and was taken to an area hospital where he is in stable condition following surgery. He is being held on $735,000 bail, without the option to post a 10 percent bond, according to Webster.
Christie responded at approximately 9:20 a.m. Monday to a report of a disorderly man outside 619 Main St. There he came across Torres Quiroz, allegedly brandishing an 8- to 10-inch steak knife. Christie and officers John Washington and Anthony Butler attempted to disarm Torres Quiroz, who was allegedly swinging the knife. A scuffle ensued, Webster said, resulting in the injuries to Christie.
During the fight, Torres Quiroz allegedly attempted to grab Washington’s service weapon, a Glock .40-caliber handgun, and Washington discharged the weapon, shooting Torres Quiroz in the abdomen.
Christie and Washington were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Washington, a 15-year department veteran, was treated for respiratory problems. He and Christie were later released, according to Webster.
