Phila. brothers resisted arrest, detective testifies

In the moments after the 2007 crash in Northern Liberties that seriously injured two Philadelphia police officers, twin brothers Kendall and Lydell Hudson "flailed about," screaming and resisting arrest, a Philadelphia police homicide detective testified yesterday.

"Leave my brother alone," Lydell Hudson screamed as he sat handcuffed in the rear of a patrol car, Detective Michael Walter told the Common Pleas Court jury.

Walter testified that Kendall Hudson, who was charged with purposely driving his car into four officers in an attempt to disrupt Lydell's arrest on robbery charges, screamed: "You're not going to take my brother to jail."

"They were yelling and screaming back and forth at each other," Walter testified.

Assistant District Attorney Bridget Kirn said she may complete her case today in the attempted murder trial of Kendall Hudson, 20, in the crash at 11:15 a.m., Feb. 21, 2007, at Orianna and Wildey Streets in Northern Liberties.

Walter testified that he went to the scene in response to a police radio report of a foot chase, which turned out to be an officer pursuing Lydell Hudson.

When he arrived, Walter said, Lydell Hudson - never charged with a crime in the incident - was handcuffed and being put into the rear of a patrol car.

A few moments later, Walter continued, he watched as Kendall Hudson sped up Orianna Street and steered his 1995 Dodge Intrepid into officers standing at the southeast corner of the intersection.

Two officers were struck by Hudson's car: Joseph Glovacz, 45, and Joseph Goodwin, 39, both 12-year police veterans.

Glovacz's right leg was shattered by the impact of the crash and he underwent five surgeries and 19 months of therapy before he was able to return full-time to the force. Goodwin suffered several ruptured spinal disks after he was hit and rolled across the hood and into the street. He missed three months of work.

The jury also heard testimony yesterday from Officer Tim Linahan, a six-year police veteran who was one of two officers who escaped injury in the crash.

Linahan said he had arrested the fleeing Lydell Hudson, cuffed him and placed him in his squad car. He was talking with Glovacz, Goodwin and Officer Joseph Ruff when Kendall's Hudson's car plowed into them.

Linahan said he jumped out of the way and then moved to get Hudson out of the car and arrest him.

"He was kicking his legs at me and trying to get out the passenger side," Linahan told the jury. Linahan - 6-feet-4 and 250 pounds, said he had to punch Hudson at least once in the head to subdue him, and needed the help of several other officers to get him out of the car, on the ground and cuffed.

Linahan's testimony corroborated that of Glovacz and Goodwin and Walter although he differed with Walter in one respect: Linahan said Kendall Hudson was not screaming and said nothing while he was subdued and arrested.

Defense attorney Ronald A. Smith has said that Hudson will testify in his defense and tell the jury he lost control of the car on snow and accidentally hit the officers.