Detective Takes Down Butcher-Knife-Wielding Assailant on Broadway, Says Report

When a detective working undercover on Lower Broadway saw a street fight, with one man hacking at another with a butcher knife, he rushed into the melee and took the assailant down with a baton, according to a police report.

The detective, James McNally, was on Lower Broadway at around 5:50 p.m. July 31 when he heard a radio call about a fight outside Sullivan Square Liquors at 30 Broadway.

When he arrived he saw three men yelling and facing off on the sidewalk and in the street, the report says.

McNally grabbed his police baton and was making his way over to the men when "it suddenly took a turn for the worse," according to the report.

The man with the knife, identified as Justin Bishop, 26, of 31 Madison St., charged at one of the other men, who backed up but stumbled and fell to the ground on the sidewalk, the report says.

According to the report, Bishop stood over the fallen man and "took a vicious swipe at him with the knife," a 9-inch butcher knife.

The victim tried to block the attack with his left hand and received a cut, the report says.

McNally yelled at Bishop to drop the knife, but Bishop ignored him, according to the report. He continued to stand over the victim, and the victim tried to defend himself by kicking at Bishop's hand, the report says.

McNally again ordered Bishop to drop the knife, but he didn't, according to the report.

McNally snapped open his expandable baton and struck Bishop's wrist and forearm, causing him to drop the knife, the report says. It says the detective then performed a leg sweep and brought Bishop to the ground.

Because he was undercover, the victims at first didn't realize McNally was a police officer, and the detective thought the victims were "about to cause injury" to him, the report says.

He yelled that he was a cop, and the victims figured it out, according to the report.

Other police units arrived and transported Bishop to the police station.

One of the victims told police he had said to Bishop, "Tough day today, huh pal?" He told police this caused Bishop to reach into a black bag and pull out the knife. 

The victim said he grabbed a plastic beverage case holder to protect himself and that Bishop took a swipe at him with the knife.

The other victim, who was in the liquor store at the time, told the clerk to call 911 and then came outside to divert Bishop's attention, he told police.

The victim who was on the ground told police he thought Bishop was going to kill him and it was lucky the detective arrived when he did.

Bishop was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Please remember that allegations contained in police reports do not indicate a conviction.