MANCHESTER, Conn. — An East Hartford man is receiving treatment at Hartford Hospital after police said he stabbed himself after attempting to burglarize a home in Manchester Tuesday night.
It started around 9:30 p.m. Whitney Stewart didn't see anything at first, but her children did. "They were like insisting, ‘Mom THERE'S a man in the yard, there’s a man in the yard.’”
Stewart said the man first came here to the side door, trying to get in, then the the front door. That's when she called 911 to report what she saw on camera, a suspect looking inside a home the area of Delmont Street, from the front door.
The suspect was described as a white male wearing dark clothing and black gloves. He was seen trying to open the side door. Police responded to check the area.
“And granted this is a door, that’s usually unlocked," Stewart said. "It was scary because, what if he got in my house? And then the whole aftermath of the situation was like.. what would have happened if he got inside my house?”
From there, the suspect apparently went to a local liquor store, the owner there sharing with FOX61 exclusively, video of the encounter and pulled a knife on him.
Police said that 30 minutes later an officer located a man matching the description of the burglary suspect in a parking lot of the CVS at 260 North Main Street.
The suspect was identified as 48-year-old Michael Cunningham. Police said the man fell to the ground as he attempted to flee and while he was on the ground, he took out a large knife and began to stab himself in the abdomen.
Police said Cunningham stood up with the knife and began to approach the officer in her car. The officer took cover and told Cunningham to drop the knife. The suspect ran west toward the parking lot of Sanford & Hawley building supply at 336 North Main Street.
The responding officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, according to police. A brief standoff took place where Cunningham did not communicate with police and refused to drop the knife.
Police said they made the decision to tactically approach Cunningham, disarm him and provide him with immediate medical attention.
Officers were able to disarm and detain Cunningham after using a stun gun.
Immediate care was begun by Manchester Fire, Rescue, and EMS. Paramedics began care and he was taken to the hospital where he remains in serious condition, according to police.
Stewart and her children are still rattled. “I just want my kids to feel like, the house is safe, nobody’s coming in. He didn’t get in, we’re safe. The cops came fast, like we’re okay but. Telling that to a 15, 10 and a five-year-old.”
The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the lead investigator, Detective Jeremy Curtis, at (860) 643-3302.
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