Bond has been set at $500,000 for a 29-year-old Nashville, Illinois man who has been charged in Washington County Court with Class X attempted murder, aggravated battery to a peace officer, and aggravated battery by use of a deadly weapon for allegedly stabbing a Nashville Police officer in the neck with a knife.
Nashville Police say Stanley Underwood was having what is believed to be a manic mental health episode when located late Tuesday night after they had been requested to complete a well-being check. After placing him into protective custody so he could get a psychiatric evaluation, police had taken him to his apartment in the 200 block of South Hoffman to secure his residence.
While at the residence, police say Underwood was able to quickly retrieve a hidden knife from within the apartment and stabbed the officer in the neck before barricading himself in a bathroom while still armed with the knife. The injured officer, a veteran officer with over ten years of experience, and a Nashville Police Lieutenant called for emergency assistance and EMS to respond.
Numerous assisting agencies and Washington County EMS arrived and quickly transported the injured officer to a St. Louis hospital. Officers then engaged in what turned into approximately a five-hour standoff with Stanley that ended early Wednesday morning. Officers also evacuated his apartment complex and some surrounding residences to assure the safety of citizens in the area.
During the standoff, a Nashville Police detective obtained a search warrant and arrest warrant for Stanley and his apartment. The department received assistance from several surrounding municipalities, sheriff’s offices, Illinois State Police, EMS agencies, and the Nashville Fire Department. Also responding was ILEAS for a SWAT team. ILEAS then took over the standoff where Stanley eventually came out of the bathroom and surrendered peacefully. Stanley was immediately placed under arrest and released and transported to the Washington County Jail.
At the jail, Stanley was served with an arrest warrant that had previously been signed by a judge with the bond set at $500,000.
The injured officer was treated and released from the hospital Wednesday morning. The officer is expected to make a full recovery and return to work in the near future.
