Capitol Riots: DC police identify officer crushed in door in horrific video after little girl sends him letter
DC Police said the officer who could be seen screaming in agony as he was crushed in a doorway during the Capitol riot is recovering and doing well. In the video from inside the Capitol, the officer could only be identified by his badge number, 4518.
However, the name of officer Daniel Hodges has since been publicised, after a 10-year-old girl from Billings, Montana was so horrified by seeing the video on the news that she wrote him a letter. Her mom posted the letter on Twitter asking for help getting it to the officer, and it garnered the attention of the DC police department who put out a response.
Hi Emma - thanks for sharing your card! Just wanted to let you know Officer Hodges is recovering and doing well. Thank you for the kind words! We’ll DM you an address of where to send it! @JohnnaJablonski https://t.co/rzByMALqPF
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 12, 2021
The mother of 10-year-old Emma, Johnna Jablonski, told Fox 5 in Washington DC that the family had been watching the incident unfold on the news. "As she was watching it, she started saying, ‘What is happening? What are they doing to that man? Why are they doing this?’ And she started to cry," Ms Jablonski said.
Thank you, Emma and @JohnnaJablonski for raising this compassionate girl! #BeLikeEmma pic.twitter.com/q8WVtIDiKg
— Lindsay Watts (@LindsayAWatts) January 12, 2021
Ms Jablonksi told NBC4 in Washington DC: "We’re thinking what could we do to let Emma express her feelings and let the officer know that she cared and that she didn’t like what she was seeing? So, I was like, ‘How does a letter sound?’ and she was like, ‘Perfect,’”
Emma's letter to officer Daniel Hodges reads:
"Dear Officer, I’m Emma and I’m 10 years old. I hope you heal from being crushed. I feel bad for you. Those people are really bad hurting you. I hope you and your family are nice and healthy. When I saw the video on CNN about people crushing you with a door I almost cried. Get Well.
-Emma"
Ms Jablonski told Fox 5 that she's received responses from around the country and the world from people pleased to hear that Mr Hodges was on the mend.
NBC 4 Washington reported that Emma got to meet Mr Hodges on a Zoom call Tuesday.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much," Mr Hodges said. He added that he was "kinda banged up but I’m looking forward to getting back out there".
Mr Hodges told Emma that he has a “headache that won’t quit," but is “doing alright all things considered.”
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