Glendale detectives lauded as lifesavers
Glendale police credit two detectives with providing critical lifesaving first aid to a sergeant wounded in an exchange of gunfire Friday. Sgt. Robert Livingston was shot by a wanted felon as police attempting to take him into custody. Livingston is in serious condition as he recovers from his injuries.
Glendale police credit two detectives with providing critical lifesaving first aid to a police sergeant injured in an exchange of gunfire Friday with a wanted felon.
Sgt. Robert Livingston was the officer shot by 44-year-old Stephen Hudak as he fled from a law-enforcement team attempting to take him into custody, according to a statement from Officer Tiffany Smith, Glendale police spokesman.
Livingston remains in serious condition as he recovers from his injuries, Smith said. He has been with the department 23 years.
“We are praying for a full recovery,” Glendale Police Chief Rick St. John said in a statement. “The Glendale Police Department family will continue to remain by his side throughout his road ahead.”
St. John cited the efforts of detectives David Turley and Jimmy Carlo, who used items from a departmentissued trauma kit to treat Livingston’s gunshot wound.
“Their quick thinking and clear
heads under extreme duress allowed them to immediately apply critical lifesaving first aid to Sergeant Livingston and we are forever indebted to them,” St. John said.
Hudak shot at officers multiple times during three separate encounters, striking Livingston in a parking lot near 43rd and Olive avenues in Glendale Friday morning, Smith said.
Hudak was fatally shot by Phoenix Police Officer Dave Norman, a member of the Phoenix police Special Assignment Unit, after Hudak was spotted in a yard in a nearby residential neighborhood.
A task force composed of the Glendale Police Wanted Fugitive Task Force Detectives, a U.S. Marshal’s Task Force and Glendale Gateway Investigations Team Detectives had been attempting to arrest Hudak, Smith said. The unit is specifically tasked with finding and arresting fugitives.
In 2017, Hudak was convicted of trafficking stolen property, according to court records. He was sentenced to prison in the case, but a bench warrant was issued after he failed to appear for the reading of his court verdict, Amanda Jacinto, public information director for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, said.
The task force had been attempting to arrest Hudak on this warrant when the shootout took place in the parking lot of a shopping center. Hudak opened fire on Livingston, prompting Carlo to fire back, Smith said.
Hudak ran into an open business and then shot at Glendale Detective Bret McLeod, who returned fire in an attempt to stop the man.
Authorities continued to pursue Hudak into a nearby residential area, Smith said. A perimeter was established in the neighborhood west of the shopping center and officers from multiple departments searched the area.
Hudak was located in a yard and again “posed a deadly threat to officers,” according to Smith. Norman then fired his duty firearm at Hudak, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Carlo and McLeod were placed on paid administrative leave, as is standard practice after any police shooting.
Court records show Hudak had an extensive criminal history dating to the early 1990s, including multiple burglary and theft offenses.
He had served more than 14 years in prison on a number of burglary-related charges and a count of tampering with physical evidence. He was released on parole in 2013.
In 2016, Phoenix police had to deploy a stun gun when arresting Hudak on suspicion of stealing air conditioner parts, according to court documents. Investigators described Hudak as a “risk to officers” in the arrest report.
While in prison, Hudak was cited for multiple disciplinary infractions for rioting and disobeying orders.
His death was one of three police shootings in Phoenix Friday.
Eight people have been fatally shot by law enforcement in 13 confrontations since the start of the year.