Willmar police officer who was stabbed making a good recovery

The Willmar police officer who was repeatedly stabbed by a suicidal man earlier this month is making a good recovery. Willmar Police Chief Jim Felt says Officer Nicole Wortham could possibly return to duty as soon as early June.

Wortham was stabbed several times by 38-year-old Jose Lozano in Lozano’s home in southeast Willmar on May 1. Lozano, who was repeatedly tased, and was shot in the leg during the incident, died of a self-inflicted knife wound to the throat. Wortham, who has been a Willmar police officer for about three years, was flown to St. Cloud for treatment, then returned to Willmar for recovery at Carris Rice Hospital.

Felt says Wortham and Officer Noah Maschino, who attempted to save Lozano, and who gave first aid to Wortham, were briefly placed on administrative leave after the incident, but have since been reinstated.

A final report on the incident is being prepared by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and will be submitted to the Kandiyohi County Attorney for review.

(JP Cola, KWLM)