Mount Vernon officer removes 5-foot python from woman’s arm

A Mount Vernon police officer is being hailed as a hero for calmly removing a 5-foot python that sank its teeth into a woman’s arm and began to squeeze tightly Friday.

Cpl. Shaun Cobb said it was the first “python call” he’s ever had.

“I walked into the house and saw a female with a large ball python coiled up on her arm,” Cobb recalled. “There was discoloration on her arm from the snake’s constriction — it was squeezing down as hard as it could.”

The snake’s owner, Leadeana Oetker, said the 20-year-old python named Baby bit her arm as she reached into its cage to move it to a separate feeding container.

Ball pythons aren’t venomous, but they have sharp teeth and kill their prey by grabbing it and constricting it.

“It burned real bad where she bit me and my hand and arm were turning purple,” Oetker said. “I stayed pretty calm, and I filled the bathtub with cold water to try to get her to let go, but it didn’t work.”

Her stepson dialed 911 and handed the phone to Oetker.

“I told them I had a 5-foot python latched onto my arm and I couldn’t get it off. I told them I needed help!”

After assessing the situation, Cobb said he located the snake’s head and tried to use the dull edge of a butter knife to force the snake’s jaw apart.

“I had the lady sit down because I didn’t want her to pass out with the snake still on,” he said. “I reached back and moved the tail and I could see the snake moving a little.”

He tried the butter knife again, this time dislodging the snake’s jaw enough for him to grab its head and detach it from Oetker’s arm. He placed the snake back in its cage.

Oetker declined a ride in an ambulance and said the bleeding from the bite was minimal.

“I’ve had her for six years, but now I’m kind of scared of her,” she admitted. “I’ll let my boyfriend feed her from now on. But I’ll tell you what, that officer was awesome.”

And what happened to Baby?

“She’s OK,” Oetker said. “She ate a rat right after that.”

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