GRAHAM, N.C. — An Alamance County man will spend the next nearly 36 years in prison after trying to kill his wife by stabbing her multiple times almost four years ago.
Law enforcement said Ali Sandi also stabbed a K9 officer, tried to set police officers on fire, and also assaulted multiple officers.
Alamance County District Attorney Sean Boone said this incident could’ve been much worse, and he's never experienced a case so horrific.
The night of May 14th, 2020 was one that many will never forget in Alamance County.
Boone explained, "There are very few cases that are as terrifying in real-time as to what happened on this occasion that I’ve ever seen in 25 years working in the criminal law field. It was truly a situation that could have been extremely tragic.”
Officers were called to a home on North Mebane Street for a domestic call.
Ali Sandi had reportedly stabbed his wife multiple times.
Sandi's wife was able to escape and run to a neighbor's house to call for help. Her children were still in the home with Sandi.
The situation only got worse after officers arrived on the scene.
"The suspect threw gasoline at officers and then tried to light a match. It was a situation that could have led to much more tragedy, and we are just thankful that it didn’t, but that was what stood out. The sheer number of officers involved. The body camera footage, it was all a very stark example of how domestic cases flare up, and how they escalate so quickly," Boone said.
Images from the bodycam footage from that night show Sandi with a gas can in his hand.
That’s when K9 officer, Talon was released to try and get control of the situation.
Talon was also stabbed causing him to be taken into emergency surgery that night.
Officers then charged into the home when Sandi attacked an officer with a knife, grabbed her by the hair, and threw her down, repeatedly hitting her head.
Sandi then head-butted another officer and bit him.
He was finally taken into custody after a stun gun was used.
Bodycam stills
After four years since this incident, a trial was held last week with the verdict coming out Monday.
Sandi will serve nearly 36 years in prison.
"Relief in that the jury saw what we believed was there, and the jury gave the judge and gave the court the tools, and the ability to impose a proper sentence," Boone said.
During the trial, many neighbors and police officers testified, including the handler of the canine that was stabbed.
Boone said, "The canine handler was asked about his relationship with his canine, and he became quite emotional when he had to testify about having to get emergency services and render emergency care to his animal. Because it’s not just a tool, and I think he testified 'My dog Talon is not at all not just a tool. He’s my partner."
Alamance County K-9 Talon
DA Boone said the result of this trial just shows the public that law enforcement doesn’t hesitate to put themselves in the line of danger to protect the public.
“This is a striking example, and a very positive example, of the lengths to which law enforcement will go to protect a citizen. It is rare that you will see a case where officers are compelled to put themselves in that position. They did so without hesitation, and they truly saved lives. Anybody who is in a domestic violence situation, if you call law enforcement, at least I can speak for Alamance County, will come out there and they will put themselves between you and the danger," he said.
Of the nineteen charges that were sent to the jury, Sandi was convicted of eleven, including the three highest level felony offenses tried: Attempted First Degree Murder, Assault With a Deadly Weapon With Intent To Kill Inflicting Serious Injury, and First Degree Kidnapping. He was also convicted of four counts of assault relating to law enforcement officers, and of assaulting the K9 dog Talon.
Talon recovered and is still working.
The DA's office also told WFMY that the children inside the home that night were okay.