A 46-year-old Quakertown man who stabbed an off-duty Lansdale police officer in July 2019 has been sentenced to county jail.
On Tuesday, Stephen Deatelhauser was sentenced to one year and one day to no more than two years in county jail, followed by five years of probation, according to a report by Christopher Dornblaser at the Bucks County Courier Times. Deatelhauser had previously entered a no-contest plea to charges of aggravated assault, flight to avoid apprehension, simple assault and related offenses on Oct. 2.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred in Richland Township on July 5, 2019.
According to the initial release from the Richland Township Police Department, police responded to a report of an erratic person walking along Route 309 on the morning of July 5, 2019. Police located the male — later identified as Deatelhauser — who then ran into a CVS, pulled the fire alarm and then fled on foot toward Route 309, the report states.
While fleeing, Deatelhauser displayed a knife and a kubaton, the report states. As members of the Richland Township Police Department were attempting to get Deatelhauser to drop the weapons, an off-duty officer from the Lansdale Police Department — later identified as Daniel Gallagher — attempted to render aid, but was stabbed in the left shoulder as he took Deatelhauser to the ground, the report states.
Deatelhauser was then taken into custody, according to the report.
Gallagher, at the time a nine-year veteran of the Lansdale Police Department assigned to the community policing unit, was transported from the scene via ambulance to Saint Luke’s-Quakertown for treatment of his injuries. He was released later that day, according to police.
Gallagher returned to duty several weeks later, and was promoted to sergeant and moved to the patrol division of the Lansdale Borough Police Department. Gallagher would also receive several awards following the incident, including the Award of Valor from both the Lansdale Borough Police Department and the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia.
In a report by Bob Keeler at the Perkasie News Herald, Deatelhauser is quoted as saying that the actions of Officer Gallagher saved his life, and had Gallagher not acted as he did, Deatelhauser believes he could have been shot or injured by passing traffic.
Keeler’s report adds that Deatelhauser will receive credit for time already served, but can only be paroled if it is to enter an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment program.
See also:
Man Pleads No Contest To Stabbing Of Off-Duty Lansdale Police Officer
Mayoral Musings: Sgt. Dan Gallagher Receives Award Of Valor
Officer Gallagher Continues Recovery From Stab Wound, Chief Reflects On His Actions
Mayoral Musings: Officer Gallagher Exhibited Training, Dedication
Souderton Man Charged In Stabbing Of Off-Duty Lansdale Police Officer
