Watch Md. Police Save 9-Year-Old Boy Held at Knifepoint by Father

Aug. 1, 2025

A Montgomery County police sergeant deployed a Taser to force a 47-year-old Germantown man to drop a knife he was holding on his 9-year-old son as he was threatening to kill him.

Joe Vince

Maryland police rescued a 9-year-old boy who was being held at knifepoint by his father last week.

The incident happened just before 10:15 p.m. Saturday when Montgomery County police responded to a domestic disturbance in Germantown, the agency stated in a news release. When they reached the scene, they found a 47-year-old man—identified as Gokhan Dugan—was threatening to kill his son as he held a large knife to the boy.

After trying to de-escalate the situation, officers ordered Dugan to drop the knife, but he refused. A sergeant then deployed a Taser, which caused Dugan to drop the knife. Officers then quickly pulled the boy to safety and took Dugan into custody.

The child was unhurt, and no officers were injured in the incident.

Dugan was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault, second-degree child abuse, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.