A Delaware County man threatening to light his parents’ house on fire attacked an Upper Darby police officer with a Samurai sword early Sunday, police say.
Police dubbed him “The Last Samurai.”
Police responded to the 4000 block of Dayton Road after a woman called saying her 36-year-old son, George Henry Rodgers, was “acting strangely.” Rodgers was threatening to douse the house in gasoline and set it on fire.
Warned that Rodgers was equipped with a Samurai sword and a cross bow, officer Dan Lanni carried a police shield as he approached the room where Rodgers was hiding, police say.
Rodgers leapt out of a bedroom wielding a Samurai sword, swinging and slashing at Lanni. Rodgers landed three blows on Lanni’s shield. Lanni defended himself with the shield and a taser and successfully took Rodgers into custody.
Rodgers, who has an “extensive criminal history,” had a picture of a skull wearing a German military helmet with a Nazi swastika on it, a gun, and knives, in addition to the sword and crossbow.
He was arrested on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault.
