The Edmond Police Department released new video Wednesday of what led up to an Edmond officer being stabbed during a traffic stop last month.
News 4 reported in May that Officer Caleb Hodam was stabbed and pepper-sprayed during a parking lot traffic stop near 15th Street and Broadway. Police said the driver that Hodam pulled over was not the aggressor, but 22-year-old Ocean Hudson was.Edmond officer stabbed, injured during traffic stop
Edmond Police shared nearly four minutes of new video from Hodam’s dashcam and body-worn camera during the May 1 incident. The video starts with Hodam talking to the driver he pulled over, before Hudson is heard trying to get his attention and then seen walking up behind him.
The video follows with Hodam being pepper-sprayed, and he and Hudson begin a physical struggle after Hudson is seen lunging at him. Hodam gets Hudson to the ground less than a minute after the struggle begins, and Hodam is heard ordering Hudson to stop.
Hudson doesn’t stop, and at one point, the video clearly shows him holding a butcher knife that police say he had.
“I have nothing left,” Hudson can be heard saying. “Just do me a favor, man. I ****** up my life.”
A bystander is seen in the video running over to help Hodam. The officer asks the bystander to take the knife away from Hudson and call for help on his radio, while Hudson makes a request for Hodam to shoot him.
“Shoot me, man, I got nothing to live for,” Hudson can be heard saying.
The bystander tries to reassure Hudson that he has everything to live for, but Hudson continues to say otherwise.
“I’m supposed to be in prison today, but I ain’t doing that,” Hudson can be heard saying.
The bystander manages to get the knife away from Hudson before a second officer shows up to help Hodam and arrest Hudson.
“He just stabbed me,” Hudson can be heard saying.
The second officer tasers Hudson when he ignores his commands, but Hudson eventually complies.
Police say, at the time of the attack, Hudson was wanted out of Canadian County for ignoring a court order in connection to a child pornography and lewd acts with a child under 16 case.
Edmond Police Chief J.D. Younger released the following statement Wednesday:
Tonight, we are releasing video of the unprovoked attack on Officer Caleb Hodam. What you will see is an officer violently attacked while simply doing his job. Make no mistake: this was a targeted ambush. Officer Hodam fought for his life and won. His survival is a direct result of his training, and composure under pressure. I am incredibly proud of his actions and grateful that he is alive today. This incident is a sobering reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face every day. We release this video in the interest of transparency and to demonstrate the reality of the threats faced by those who protect our community, not just in Edmond, but communities nation-wide. We ask the public to view it with the seriousness and respect it deserves. Please keep Officer Hodam and all our officers in your prayers as we maintain our commitment to trustworthy service.
