The unnamed woman was watching her son warm up during one of several youth sporting events on the fields when her son noticed his father, Russell Husges, 43, approach her from behind and signaled to her that he was there.

“When she turned, she saw the suspect walking towards her, holding kitchen knives in each hand,” the Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD) said in a Facebook post. “She immediately ran onto the playing field, screaming for help with the suspect giving chase.”

After Husges, who is from Anaheim, chased his wife with the kitchen cutlery, a youth sports coach and an off-duty officer pursued Husges and stopped his advance toward his ex-wife and disarmed him before any harm could take place, police said.

A GGPD spokesman, Lieutenant Mario Martinez, said that the incident took place at a flag football game and that multiple spectators and parents intervened to stop Husges before police arrived. He added that a second off-duty officer was also present.

Husges was restrained until Garden Grove police arrived and arrested him. He was transferred to Orange County Jail, where he is being held on $500,000 bail, according to Orange County inmate records.

He was arrested on an attempted murder charge and is set to appear in court Tuesday, Martinez said.

“This was an incident that could have ended tragically, and we’re just happy at the police department that the coach got involved and that other parents that were there got involved to prevent something tragic from happening, and we’re very glad that no one was hurt,” Martinez added.

Police did not disclose details regarding Husges’ motives, although they did hashtag their press release on social media as #attemptedmurder.

The release shared to Facebook garnered community attention with over hundreds of reactions praising the off-duty officer and youth sports coach who stepped in to stop Husges. The post also had more than 80 comments.

“Good job Citizens/officers. There is no room in Society for Violence against Woman. It has to stop,” commented Facebook user Ronald Frazier.

“Thank you GGPD, for arriving quickly and getting the situation under control. We were there and it was very scary for all involved,” wrote Facebook user Meghan Dunlop. “Praying for that poor woman and her child, and thankful to everyone who intervened until the PD could arrive.”

“What kind of horrible human being tries to stab the mother of his child right in front of that child and in front of other children. I hope he rots in jail,” Facebook user Leslie Grimes commented.

Before Husges was arrested, GGPD had been celebrating last week’s National Police Week on social media by remembering their officers who died in the line of duty.

“#NationalPoliceWeek is a time when we acknowledge and honor the men and women who have paid the ultimate price, while in the line of duty,” the department wrote on Facebook. “Their legacy of service is remembered and continued every time we put the badge on.”