Hope Mills officer who saved victim from machete attack describes moments before suspect’s arrest

HOPE MILLS, N.C. (WNCN) — The off-duty Hope Mills Police officer who stopped a machete attack said ignoring it just wasn’t an option.

Witnesses said a man was cutting another man with a machete behind The Wash House on South Main Street in Hope Mills around 4 p.m. on Friday. Officer Ian Cortese was off duty at the time. He had just left the gym and saw the attack while driving by the laundry mat.

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Both the victim, and suspect, James McIntrye are known in the community.

“I tried to plea with him a little bit and try to get him to drop the knife. He didn’t want to comply,” Cortese said.

He said he knew he had to stop the man before he killed the victim.

“I kicked his feet out from under him, and as he was falling, I was able to like slide my hand up his wrist, grab a hold of the handle of the knife. Tossed it away from us just so it’s no chance of it to get back in play,” Officer Cortese said.

The off-duty officer held the suspect down until on-duty officers arrived, as a witness called 911.

James McIntrye was arrested and faces multiple charges including attempted murder,

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Witnesses said if it wasn’t for the quick actions of Cortese, the victim might have died.

“It was just like another day. I didn’t do anything different than I would have done if I was working,” Cortese said.

The victim is recovering at home after being released from the hospital.

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