A 30-year-old Duluth man who stabbed a Duluth police officer with a screwdriver was sentenced Friday to 7½ years in prison.
Brian Joseph Long entered an Alford plea in a December hearing, admitting there was sufficient evidence to convict him of first-degree assault by the use of deadly force against a peace officer. An Alford plea is sometimes used when the defendant has no recollection of the events due to intoxication. Judge John DeSanto pronounced Long guilty.
One of Long's parents called police on Nov. 26, 2008, to report that their son was in their home, was intoxicated and refusing to leave.
Long then called 911 himself and said he wanted someone to come and get him because he wanted to die. When officers entered the residence, Long lunged at Officer Marc Johnson and stabbed him in the left arm with the screwdriver.
Another officer asked Long why he did it. Long said he wanted to kill the officer and that he was angry and no one could figure out why, according to police.
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As part of a plea agreement, a charge of attempted second-degree murder was dismissed.
Long was given credit for the 444 days he already has spent in jail.
