DORAL, Fla. – A Miami-Dade police detective who was stabbed by an inmate during a prisoner transport in Texas spoke publicly for the first time since the incident.
"Yes, that is a bruise on my neck that came during the fight," Jaime Pardinas said. "It'll be gone in a couple of days I hope."
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the 28-year veteran spoke at the Miami-Dade Police Department headquarters in Doral on Thursday.
Alberto Morales stabbed Pardinas four times while in the parking lot of a Walmart in Grapevine, Texas, on Feb. 11, police say.
"There are mostly puncture wounds to my back and to my chest. He tried getting to my eyes but all the training over 28 years kicked in," said Pardinas. "It all came back, every bit of training."
Morales, a convicted sex offender, was shot and killed by police four days later, according to the Southlake Police Department in Texas.
Pardinas thanked his police supervisor who trained him for saving his life.
"Every word he said, it all came back and it helped me survive," he said, " and for that, I will be eternally grateful."
Pardinas also thanked colleagues who welcomed him home with signs and balloons on Tuesday.
"That was a pretty emotional moment," he said. "We don't do this for the praise. It was very comforting to know that all of these people were there for me."
Pardinas wasn't sure when he'll return to work.