Team Effort Helped Save Life Of Officer After Patchogue Stabbing

PATCHOGUE, NY — Several good Samaritans were recognized for their efforts that may have saved the life of a Suffolk officer who was critically stabbed in the leg while trying to arrest a drunk driver in Patchogue last week.

Officer Christopher Racioppo was stabbed by 25-year-old Jonathan Nunez, who ran away after crashing his car on South Ocean Avenue. He began fighting with Racioppo, who was attempting to arrest him, and stabbed the officer in the leg.

He was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue and then transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured artery and was listed in critical condition, police said.

However, the situation could have ended differently had it not been for the efforts of good Samaritans.

Guillermo Sandoval, a U.S. Marine, and retired NYPD Officer Frank Recupero, quickly sprang into action after witnessing the incident before police, including Sgt. Frank Samartino, Sgt. Nick Blaschuk, Officer Taylor Herbst, Officer Christopher Morris, and Officer Jarrett Hanwright, arrived at the scene.

Sandoval, who called 911, used a belt to try to stop the bleeding while Recupero, who happened to be driving by at the time, wrestled with Nunez to keep him from fleeing.

When backup arrived, Herbst applied a tourniquet while Samartino, realizing they did not have time to wait for an ambulance, loaded Racioppo into a car and drove him to the hospital.

"I saw Officer Racioppo's face, and I knew we were in trouble and I knew I had seconds to get him out of there," Samartino said during a press conference.

According to Samartino, at one point while driving to the hospital they thought they had lost Racioppo.

He was stabilized at Long Island Community Hospital before being transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital for his surgery.

That opportunity for surgery was made possible, according to Suffolk County Police Chief Consulting Surgeon and Medical Director Dr. James Vosswinkel, thanks to the medical attention Racioppo received at the scene.

Vosswinkel said with an injury of this nature, a person can lose their entire blood volume in less than 20 minutes.

"He is receiving the utmost, modern care," Vosswinkel said.

On Tuesday, Patchogue officials honored Sandoval, awarding him a Proclamation of Gratitude for his heroism.

Newsday reports that Nunez continued to be violent during his arrest, kicking another officer in the eye and struggling with EMTs who were taking him to the hospital.

He was charged with aggravated assault upon a police officer, DWI and resisting arrest, police said.

During his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty and was order to be held without bail, according to Newsday.