Patrolman Robert William Wehagen

Robert William Wehagen

Patrolman Robert Wehagen was stabbed by an escaped mental patient as he entered an apartment.

Patrolman Wehagen and other officers responded to the butcher shop where the escaped mental patient lived. He threatened his wife, daughter, and godson, which was overheard by the upstairs neighbor, who called the police. The man then shooed everyone out and locked himself in the apartment. The officers obtained the key from his wife, and as he was opening the door, Patrolman Wehagen was stabbed in the abdomen. As he fell to the floor, he was able to spray the man in the face with tear gas. The suspect was subsequently shot by other officers and died at the hospital.

Patrolman Wehagen was taken to Lutheran Hospital for surgery. The knife had severed his intestines in five places, and he died while in surgery.

Patrolman Wehagen was a United States Army World War I veteran and had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 18 years. He was survived by his wife and parents.