A recent incident in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has drawn attention after police body camera footage revealed a tense confrontation. According to a preliminary report from the Connecticut Office of Inspector General, the footage shows a man, later identified as 49-year-old Dale Stephenson, rushing at an officer with two large kitchen knives in hand before the officer discharged his weapon.
The report, released by Connecticut Inspector General Robert Devlin Jr., identified the officer who fired his gun as Bridgeport Police Officer Israel Colon. The knife-wielding suspect, Dale Stephenson, was subsequently taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital in serious but stable condition following the shooting.
The events unfolded last Thursday when Bridgeport officers responded to a report of an individual displaying erratic behavior and wielding a knife on Birdseye Street at approximately 6 a.m. According to Devlin’s preliminary report, officers encountered Stephenson in the middle of the road at an apartment complex.
Footage from Colon’s body camera shows the tense encounter, with the officer immediately calling for additional units upon spotting Stephenson armed with two knives. The report also noted the arrival of Bridgeport Officer Darryl Wilson Jr. at the scene.
Upon stepping out of his cruiser, Colon attempted to engage Stephenson in conversation, addressing him as “brother.” However, Stephenson swiftly charged at the officer with a knife in each hand, prompting Colon to back away while yelling “Don’t do it” before firing three rounds, as captured by the bodycam footage. Stephenson was subsequently shot and seen dropping the knives to the ground.
Following the shooting, police provided medical assistance to Stephenson before he was transported to the hospital via ambulance. Tiadora Josef, the director of public information for the City of Bridgeport, confirmed that Stephenson had been shot in the lower leg.
According to Devlin’s report, Stephenson has been charged with attempted first-degree assault and related charges in connection with the incident. Court records indicate that he also faces misdemeanor charges of second-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree breach of peace, in addition to the felony assault charge. Stephenson is currently held on a $100,000 bond and is slated to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on June 11, as per the records.