St. Lucie County Deputy stabbed in neck at crash scene
Fort Pierce, Fl (treasurecoast.com)- A St. Lucie County deputy was stabbed in his neck at a crash scene on Indian River Drive.
According to Brian Hester, a courageous St. Lucie County deputy was stabbed in the neck during a “completely unprovoked attack” late Wednesday night, yet still managed to chase after the suspect.
The Sheriff’ deputies responded to a rollover crash in the 12500 block of South Indian River Drive around 11 p.m. and found a vehicle unoccupied.
Deputy Cody Colangelo, 22, located the driver of the car walking along the shoreline down an embankment near the crash scene. The driver was identified as Leigha Michelle Day, 21.
Colangelo made contact with Day, who authorities said was “emotional.” They spoke for about one minute, and Colangelo told Day to walk back up the embankment.
Suddenly, without warning, Day turned and stabbed Colangelo in the neck with a knife, nicking his carotid artery.
St. Lucie County Deputy stabbed in neck at crash scene
Day ran off and Colangelo fired one shot at her, but missed.
Colangelo chased after Day while applying pressure to his wound.
Then, Colangelo lost sight of Day and began radioing other deputies for help. Authorities eventually found Day hiding down an embankment and took her into custody.
Colangelo underwent a two-hour surgery during which doctors replaced part of the artery in his neck with one from his leg. The deputy is now in stable condition in the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Prior to the violent encounter with Colangelo, Day was speeding on South Indian River Drive, lost control of her car and slammed into a tree. She was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail just before 9 a.m. Thursday on a charge of premeditated first-degree attempted murder.
See the entire press conference here.
