[xsrdx]

Sounds like the "elite" SWAT team needs to put their fancy gear aside and practice some basic hand-to-hand combat techniques.

My guess is the perp was a large, confident fighter. Shrinking violets don't usually tackle the police.

Cops are good at ground fighting and submission holds, but a serious brawler with a size advantage is a formidable adversary.

[womcg]

Agreed. An ex-con who just spent 3-6 years pumping iron and practicing disarming moves is not unusual. Same for big, violent street crazies. Worked a case once where the lone cop was distracted by a crowd, and got taken down from behind in a surprise attack. Only thing that saved him was an unmarked car and two detectives with Remington 870's. Sad fact is that most cops are not experinced street fighters, nor gun fighters, for that matter.