TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Feb. 2, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — An Indiana man who police say was approaching Elizabeth Smart with a knife is facing battery charges after he allegedly assaulted a law officer who stopped him.
Claude Hudson, 80, is accused of striking Indiana State University Police Capt. Ian Loomis multiple times.
According to the probable cause statement, Hudson attended a speech given by Smart on Monday evening at ISU. Afterward, she was signing copies of her book when Hudson, armed with a 3-inch knife, ignored the line and started walking directly toward Smart.
Hudson left the scene of the alleged assault, but was picked up later on an arrest warrant, and appeared in court on Monday. He pleaded not guilty to battery, and his bond was set at $25,000 cash only, according to CBS News.
Smart’s spokesman on Thursday issued a statement, saying she “is grateful for law enforcement and Indiana State University’s quick response and that the event and her work continued undeterred.”
Authorities said Hudson has a history of arrests in California, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada and Tennessee. His criminal records also show he was convicted of attempted murder back in 1991 for a case in Nevada. He currently is on parole for a burglary conviction.
