South Philadelphia man accused of threatening officer

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) Police say a South Philadelphia man is charged with making terroristic threats after a confrontation with two officers Wednesday night on 6th and Ritner. The 20-year-old suspect is still behind bars but even his own mother tells us her son's lucky he's still alive

Officer Michael Edwards was sitting in his patrol car at Mifflin Square Park when he was approached by soaking wet 20-year-old Shareef Haynes.

"I asked him again if I can help him. His first response was I should blow your f-ing head off," Officer Edwards said.

Edwards was able to get out of the car, pull his gun and called for back-up. When Officer Eric Tyler arrived on scene, police say, Haynes went after him.

"He started charging me. And I said take your hands out of your pants. And he didn't so as he took another step and discharged my taser and it was training," said Officer Tyler.

Police Commissioner Richard Ross says the officers showed remarkable restraint in not using deadly force, especially following the point blank shooting of fellow officer Jesse Hartnett last month.

"When you take into account what happened to Officer Jesse Hartnett and what just happened. It's absolutely remarkable that he did not shoot this male," Ross said.

Hayne's mother tells FOX 29 her son doesn't even remember what police say he did.

"He's been having mental problems. He's been mentally ill," said the suspect's mother, Veronica Haynes. "Thank God they just tased him because they could have shot him and killed him.. could have been a different story."

Both of these officers feel the same and are thankful for their training, they call the best in the country.