DENTON, TX, March 24, 2022 — Two Denton PD Homeless Outreach Team Officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries late this afternoon after they contacted a sex offender with outstanding warrants.
At approximately 3:13 p.m., the Homeless Outreach Team responded to a call for outreach. A resident reported a growing homeless encampment in the area of Meadow Ridge Drive and Hinkle Drive. Officers responded and contacted several persons experiencing homelessness, in hopes of providing them with resources. One of the individuals was identified as 37-year-old Gerald Kosirog. Officers learned that Kosirog was a registered sex offender, and he had multiple warrants out of Tennessee for Sex Offender Registration Violations.
While the two officers were waiting on the warrant confirmation, the suspect started running. Both officers pursued Kosirog, and upon catching up to him, Kosirog produced a knife and began stabbing the officers repeatedly with it. Kosirog attempted to stab one officer in the chest, and the other officer was stabbed in a slashing motion across his face and arm. One of the officers responded defensively by striking the suspect with a closed fist, and the two officers managed to detain the suspect in handcuffs. After backup arrived, the two officers and the suspect were each transported in separate ambulances to local hospitals.
The officer whom Kosirog attempted to stab in the chest sustained minor bruising and swelling during the struggle. Thankfully this officer was wearing his rifle plated vest vs. only his ballistic vest, and the blade did not puncture through the vest. The second officer sustained lacerations to his head and arm, requiring stitches for two of his wounds. The suspect sustained a broken nose when the wounded officer defensively struck him. All three were released from the hospital by late Thursday evening, and Kosirog was transported to the City of Denton Jail for the Sex Offender Registration Violation warrants out of Tennessee.
After reviewing the facts of this incident, detectives applied for two arrest warrants for Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer. Both warrants were granted by a local judge. Kosirog was transferred to the Denton County Jail on the charges, and his bond has not yet been set.