Grand jury indicts Bolivar woman in stabbing of 2 troopers
An Allegany County grand jury has indicted Julia C. Groff of Bolivar on 10 total charges — including two top counts of attempted murder of a police officer — stemming from her alleged stabbing of two state police troopers in an incident May 17 in Bolivar.
District Attorney Ian M. Jones said, in addition to the attempted murder charges, Groff, 31, faces charges of aggravated assault on a police officer (two counts); menacing a police officer (two counts); grand larceny in the fourth degree; resisting arrest; obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree; and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
Groff continues to be held in the Allegany County Jail without bail.
On May 17, troopers based in Amity responded at approximately 3:25 p.m. to the Crosby’s gas station at 500 Main St. on a stolen vehicle report. Troopers located a stolen 2000 black Chevrolet Silverado at the gas pump and approached the operator, later allegedly identified as Groff.
State police said Groff violently resisted arrest and stabbed Trooper Jacob Klock, a nine-year veteran, just above an eye and Trooper Michael Rich, an 11-year veteran, in the head with a hunting knife. In response to the assault, Rich discharged his issued firearm, but did not strike Groff, state police reported.
Both troopers were hospitalized after the incident — Trooper James O’Callaghan, the public information officer for New York State Police’s Troop A in Western New York, told WIVB that Klock almost lost an eye while Rich suffered a skull fracture. Both were released from the hospital after a few days and O’Callaghan said there would be no lasting physical effects from their injuries.
O’Callaghan said, in the melee, Groff pushed aside Rich’s handgun when he fired his first shot, explaining how the trooper missed at such close range. Meanwhile, Groff’s grip on the handgun prevented ejection of the first shell casing, which prevented a second shot.
It was at that point that Rich was also stabbed by Groff, O’Callaghan said.
The NYSP spokesman also noted that bystanders helped subdue Groff after the two troopers had sustained the knife wounds.
