UPDATED: 6:22 p.m.

The man who struggled to pull a Metro police officer’s gun from his holster in a downtown restroom this morning is expected to be released from Vanderbilt University Medical Center tonight and will be charged with attempted aggravated assault on a police officer.

Metro Police said the suspect, James Collier, 43, is homeless and has been seen walking around downtown for the past few months.

He had not caused any trouble prior to today's incident and had no local prior arrest history, police said.


REPORTED EARLIER

A Metro Police officer stabbed a suspect in a leg Thursday morning after the man tried to grab his gun in a restroom at the downtown Provence next to the Nashville main library.

Officer Marty Crowder, a Metro Nashville bike patrol officer, was using the restroom at the restaurant when James Collier came in to the small room, locked the door and went for the gun, said Don Aaron, Metro Police spokesman.

There was a struggle over the gun and the officer stabbed Collier in the leg with a knife that he is authorized to carry, though it is not issued by the police department, Aaron said.

Collier was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in critical but stable condition. He did not ever gain possession of the gun.

Crowder was also transported to Vanderbilt. He was not seriously hurt, police said.

Aaron said that police officers are trained to protect their firearm at all times.




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