Stabbing-Felony Battery

 On June 12 at approximately 1:10 p.m., Vanderburgh County Dispatch received a 911 call for a medical emergency in the 4800 block of Ridge Knoll Dr. The caller stated that a male was not breathing. Firefighters with the Evansville Fire Department arrived at the address. They could hear yelling from inside the address as they approached the door. One of the firefighters opened the door to announce that EFD was on scene. The suspect reached around the door with a large knife and stabbed the firefighter’s face, causing a puncture in his face. The suspect charged out the door toward the firefighter with the knife and prepared to stab the firefighter again. The firefighter was able to avoid the knife and the firefighters were able to gain control of the suspect until EPD officers arrived on scene and took the suspect into custody. 

The suspect was identified as 34-year-old John E. Deer from Evansville. Deer’s girlfriend told investigators that prior to EFD arriving on scene, she had to administer Narcan to Deer and had attempted CPR on him due to him not breathing and turning blue. She further stated that Deer finally responded to the Narcan, became combative, and attacked his 86-year-old-grandfather, who chose not to press charges against Deer. 

Deer was charged with Level 5 Felony Battery against a firefighter and it was committed using a deadly weapon. He was taken to the hospital and then was booked into the Vanderburgh County Confinement Center once he was medically cleared.