Two deputies answer a call of a "man with a knife." A woman opens the front door and the deputies enter cautiously. "It’s Herman, my husband," she says.

The woman steps aside as Darrell, and his younger partner George, enter the house with guns drawn. Here’s Herman on the opposite side of the room with a 12-inch butcher knife in his hand. At the sight of the two cops, Herman takes a small step forward.

As a side note-it’s been documented that a man holding a knife can cross a 20 foot room in less time than it takes a police officer to draw his pistol and fire. In the time it takes a cop to unstrap his gun, the knife can be firmly imbedded in his chest.

"Hold it right there," says Darrell. "If you come any closer I’ll shoot you."

Herman stops, but only momentarily. He takes another small step with the knife pointed directly at Darrell.

"I’m giving you fair warning, Herman, if you come any closer I’m going to have to shoot you," says the deputy. His partner, George, is standing directly behind the older officer.

Herman’s face is soaked with sweat. He looks like he’s scared to death, but he advances yet another small step toward the deputies. "Get out of my house or I’ll kill the both of you," says the knifer, now less than 15 feet away.

The elder deputy repeats the warning: "Drop the knife and turn around or I will shoot."

After that third warning, the knifer suddenly drops his weapon on the floor, turns around and laces his fingers together on the back of his head.

The cops handcuff him. Darrell asks Herman why he took so long to surrender. "Idiot. I could have killed you," the deputy says.

Herman tells Darrell, "I didn’t think you’d actually shoot me until the other deputy-the guy behind you-made such a weird face, closed his eyes and stuck his fingers in his ears. That’s when I knew for sure you were getting ready to pull the trigger."