ALBANY, N.Y. – State Police and Albany Police officials are searching for 18-year-old Eric Green for questioning in conjunction with the assault and stabbing of a state trooper which occurred on Sunday afternoon on the concourse of the Empire State Plaza.
Green's current address is unknown but he does have ties to the Grand Street area in the City of Albany. Officials are asking anyone who might have seen him or know of his whereabouts to contact 518-474-5330 with any information.
A person in that neighborhood who claims to know Green described him as mentally
unstable.
"He's very irate," Ronald Miles told
NEWS10. "He's very dangerous. He's
lonely and he's hurt and he's confused. And he's reaching out to people in a
different way - in a violent way."
Trooper Rodney L. Smith, who was stabbed in the line of duty at Empire State Plaza is currently in stable condition at Albany Medical Center Hospital and is expected to fully recover.
Trooper Smith, a 15-year veteran of the State Police assigned to the Capitol security detail, was conducting a foot patrol of the Plaza's concourse level at about 3:15 p.m. Sunday when the male suspect approached him near the Madison Avenue exit, State Police said. The man told Smith he was new in town and didn't know anyone in the area.
Smith attempted to check the man's identification when the man allegedly pulled out a steak knife and stabbed Smith on the left side of his neck, police said.
"A brief struggle ensued with the trooper able to fend off the assailant, but he also suffered an additional puncture wound to the right side of his neck, his face, and numerous superficial wounds to hands and arms," according to a press release from the State Police.
The suspect dropped the steak knife, and grabbed Smith's portable radio before fleeing the concourse.
Smith, who was bleeding heavily from his injuries, called for help and was rushed to Albany Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery.
City police officers were seen lying on the pavement, looking under parked cars for the trooper's portable radio. They also searched the bushes adjacent to the roadway. By late Sunday, they had not been able to find the radio or the suspect.
Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings visited
Smith in the emergency department shortly after the attack.
"I felt it was my responsibility to
go down there," Jennings said Monday. "I had met him before.
It's like anyone in law enforcement: they need support at a very difficult time.
Thank God he is alright."
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who also visited
Smith in the hospital, said the attack is a reminder of the dangers faced by
first responders.
"They literally put their lives on
the line every day," Cuomo said at a press conference Monday. "The sacrifice
that they make, and truly the heroism that they show, are really
extraordinary.
Anyone with information on
Green, the man sought for questioning, is asked to call New York State Police at
518-474-5330.
"Our troopers can find themselves in dangerous and sometimes life threatening situations on any given day. Fortunately Trooper Smith is expected to make a full recovery," said State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico. "State Police are working with the Albany Police Department as well as other area law enforcement to identify the individual responsible for this senseless attack. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Smith's family."
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