St. Lucie County - stabbed deputy's body cam video released

Baz · Baz's Garage

Just saw this story......happened in Jim's backyard.......

A930Rocket · 03-31-2022, 06:35 PM

She had dumpster fire written all over her.

With one or both hands always behind her back or hidden, I don’t think I would’ve gotten within 10 feet of her.

masraum · 03-31-2022, 06:38 PM

https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/crime/st-lucie-county/2022/03/29/more-details-southern-st-lucie-county-deputy-neck-stabbing/7195677001/

Quote:

After St. Lucie County sheriff’s investigators accused a woman of stabbing a deputy in the neck following a traffic crash, the woman said she was scared of going to jail and scared that she didn't have insurance, according to an arrest affidavit.

Leigha Michelle Day, 21, made the statements following the March 23 incident on South Indian River Drive in southern St. Lucie County.

She was arrested on a charge of attempted murder in what was described as a “completely unprovoked” attack on Deputy Cody Colangelo after Day was involved in a late night traffic crash.

Colangelo, who was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery, was recovering at home Sunday, sheriff's officials said.

Previously: SLCSO: Deputy saves own life after being stabbed near Indian River Drive; Palm Bay woman arrested
St. Lucie County Sheriff's Deputy Cody Colangelo

After speaking to witnesses, investigators learned a woman was seen going down an embankment on South Indian River Drive, Chief Deputy Brian Hester has said.

Colangelo found the woman, identified as Day, walking along the shoreline.

Body cam footage captures a portion of the interaction.

“What’s going on?” Colangelo asked her.

“I don’t know,” she replies.

Colangelo asked Day to come up from the water and, crying, she said she didn’t want to because she was scared. Within seconds the stabbing occurred.

Colangelo fired a shot, but missed.

According to the arrest affidavit, after the stabbing Day was found in waist-deep water.

“I do believe I just stabbed an officer,” she is quoted as saying.

She appeared to be impaired by narcotics, an investigator wrote.

Day said she crashed her car, and left the vehicle with her wallet and a knife.

“She was scared of going to jail, based upon her actions, and the fact she had no (car) insurance,” the affidavit states.

Day reportedly said she stabbed someone “out of fear.”

“She further explained she did not intend to kill the deputy, but did want to get away or escape,” the affidavit states. “Ms. Day was cooperative, but very reluctant and not forthcoming with information.”

Sheriff’s officials last week said Day lives in Palm Bay in Brevard County, but the listed address on her arrest affidavit is in the 4900 block of Oleander Avenue. That’s just north of West Midway Road in St. Lucie County.

Gordon Woodrow, 81, who lives there said he’d see Day coming and going. Woodrow, who said he’d lived there 14 years, said she hadn’t lived there in at least two months.

He said she resided there for just a couple of months.

“She kept to herself,” said Woodrow.

Bill Douglas · 03-31-2022, 07:56 PM

He was being quite kindly towards her. Plus she was quite quick and being in the dark the poor cop didn't stand a chance.

pwd72s · 03-31-2022, 08:54 PM

Police Brutality. Defund the police.

Jims5543 · 04-01-2022, 03:15 AM

Yup, happened about 5 miles from my office.

It was all the buzz here, crap like that does not typically happen here so it is a bit of a big deal.

masraum · 04-01-2022, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jims5543

Yup, happened about 5 miles from my office.

It was all the buzz here, crap like that does not typically happen here so it is a bit of a big deal.

I've got a bunch of family that lives in Vero. I think that's a much quieter place than the Ft Pierce and Port St Lucie areas.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Poor training and tactics almost cost him his life. The very first words out of his mouth should have been, "show me your hands," and he never should have let her get within striking distance until she complied.

This where bias gets cops killed...they think, "young/white/female/etc." and let all common sense defenses down. I guarantee that if someone from a different category was acting like that, he'd have responded differently. I'm glad that he's going to survive but that is just pure luck on his part.

matthewb0051 · matthewb0051's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

Poor training and tactics almost cost him his life. The very first words out of his mouth should have been, "show me your hands," and he never should have let her get within striking distance until she complied.

Was thinking the same thing. I was in court this week and officer was testifying. Attorney had officer step down to show how close she was to the person she arrested. As the attorney got closer he finally got within a range that was too close. Officer immediately in one move backed up and pushed attorney away. This was in court and a non-threat situation.

Officer went on to say they are trained to not let anyone get that close to them. Otherwise...