Graphic bodycam footage shows the moment a police officer fought for her life as she was charged to the ground and repeatedly battered with a claw hammer.
Connecticut Detective Karli Travis, 52, has been hailed as a hero for fighting off Winston Tate after responding to a report of noise and breaking glass on a street in Middletown on Saturday, August 12.
In the footage Tate is seen emerging from his home and running towards the cop who calmly asks him to drop the hammer.
But Tate, who has twice been jailed for attacks on officers, struck Travis four times before she took her gun and shot him, injuring him slightly.
She was hailed for an ‘extreme act of heroism’ by the town’s police chief as Tate appeared in court where he bizarrely attempted to take off his clothes as the judge addressed him on Tuesday.
Bodycam video shows the moment Winston Tate (left) charged from his house and used a claw hammer to repeatedly batter Connecticut Detective Karli Travis (right) on a Middletown street before she drew her gun and shot him
‘She’s resting comfortably at home, she’s being supported, we’re extremely proud of her,’ said Middletown Police Chief Erik Costa.
Police had been called to Tate’s house five times in the last month after reports of disturbances.
The 52-year-old has convictions dating back to 1995 and was jailed for previous attacks on police officers in 2017 and 2020 wfsb.com reported.
But Detective Travis appeared to be on her own as she responded to the call on Saturday evening.
She immediately radioed for back-up as Tate charged towards her with the steel hammer, asking him ‘can you put that down please?’
Chief Eric McCallister said Travis attempted to distance herself from her attacker but was ‘fighting for her life’ as she was bundled to the ground before drawing her gun and firing several shots.
Tate fled back inside his home before more officers arrived, surrounding the house and arresting him.
Both Tate and his victim were taken to hospital where they were treated for minor injuries.
Police bodycam shows Tate slashing at his victim with the hammer
Footage from the officer's bodycam shows Tate charging from his house and bearing down on his target with the hammer clearly visible before slashing at his target
Tate appeared in court on Tuesday charged with criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault, second-degree assault, assault on public safety personnel, and interfering with police.
He had to be restrained by officers in the dock as he tried to remove his prison jumpsuit while the judge was ordering him to be held on a $500,000 bond.
‘He’s dangerous. There’s nobody that’s safe from this man,’ the state’s attorney said.
More than 20 of Travis’s colleagues flanked Chief Costa as he paid tribute to his officer at a press conference.
Tate was restrained after attempting to remove his jail uniform while handcuffed in court on Tuesday
‘We believe she’s strong and she needs to be known as a heroine obviously,’ he told reporters.
A spokesman for Middletown’s police union said that Tate could easily have killed his victim.
‘It is our hope that this time finally after attempting to murder a police officer, he will suffer the consequences that he so rightfully deserves,’ he added.
Tate is due back in court on October 3.
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