Dec 29, 2015 2 min read

CANONSBURG – A split-second decision by two Canonsburg police officers who were confronted earlier this year by a hatchet-wielding man who wanted them to shoot him ended safely when they were able to take him into custody using a Taser instead of lethal force.

Officer Jonathon Cornell, a five-year veteran of the department, and Officer Thomas O’Rourke, who has been a full-time member for a year after working part time for several years, were recognized for their distinguished service by Mayor David Rhome and borough council earlier this week.

The two officers were called to a reported assault at an East Pike Street bar in October. A man was reportedly swinging a hatchet and machete, threatening to kill people. As they arrived, they found 49-year-old Aaron V. Carver of Canonsburg on a curb in a parking lot in the 10 block of North Central Avenue, holding a hatchet and what appeared to be a bayonet.

When Cornell and O’Rourke approached, giving Carver orders to drop the weapons, he reportedly came at the two officers with the weapons raised, yelling “Shoot me.”

O’Rourke had his Taser drawn. After numerous commands from both officers to drop the weapons, O’Rourke fired his Taser Carver, who then fell to the curb. Maintaining his grip on the weapons, the man got up and again came at the officers. O’Rourke fired his Taser several more times before Carver released his grip on the weapons and was taken into custody. Police learned that he had struck a bar patron in the arm with the handle of the hatchet after the other man put up his arms to defend himself against the attack.

“The two officers had only a fraction of a second to make the determination to use deadly force or less than deadly force,” said police Chief Alex Coghill. “They were able to recognize that he was trying to commit suicide by cop.”

“They are being commended for making a critical decision under extreme circumstances,” Coghill added.

A preliminary hearing on charges including aggravated assault was continued until April so Carver can seek mental health treatment.