Butler chief IDs stabbed officer
Butler City Police have identified the officer who was stabbed and who fatally shot a resident while responding to a call Tuesday.
According to Butler City Police Chief Robert O’Neil, officer Michael Sulerud is the injured officer.
According to authorities Tuesday, Sulerud had been stabbed multiple times. He was flown by helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, where he needed surgical treatment.
“He is in stable but critical condition,” O’Neill said Thursday. “The family wanted to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and to let them know that in his time of recovery, they will not be reaching out to comment.”
According to authorities Tuesday, Sulerud arrived at the scene of a disturbance around 6:54 a.m., where John Ebberts of Butler was jumping in and out of traffic on the 300 block of West Jefferson Street.
According to state police, Sulerud addressed the man, who stabbed him, and subsequently Sulerud shot Ebberts, killing him. Investigations in officer-involved shootings from local police departments are often handled by the state police, as is this one.
On Tuesday, nearly 20 state troopers responded to the call, and a news conference was held later that morning in front of the state police barracks in Butler.
In a statement Thursday, Trooper Josh Black confirmed there was no video of the incident at this time, including a lack of video from body or cruiser cameras.
“We have nothing new to report on the investigation, but it is still ongoing,” Black said.
O’Neill said he hopes the public will respect the family’s request for privacy.
O’Neill said he was able to meet briefly with Sulerud. He said he expressed his full support and told him of all the well wishes from the community.
Sulerud is a Marine Corps veteran and three-year veteran of the city police department.
“Officer Sulerud is a man of great integrity and fortitude and requests for continued prayer during his recovery,” O’Neill said.
The chief said he would continue to give periodic updates on Sulerud’s condition; however, the city police department will not comment on the investigation into the shooting itself.
Fundraising efforts for both men have been set up through the GoFundMe donation website to help their respective families.
As of Thursday, the fundraiser for Sulerud’s family has raised about $20,575 of its $30,000 goal, meant to offset costs associated with his injuries.
Also as of Thursday, the fundraiser started by Ebberts’ husband, Joseph Torres, has raised $1,020 of its $2,000 goal, meant to cover the final expenses.
According to Torres, Ebberts was denied health care coverage due to his conditions, which were not specified on the GoFundMe page.
