Bodycam Footage Captures Encounter Between Chelsea Bomb Suspect, Police

LINDEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - Police in Linden, New Jersey on Wednesday released body camera footage from one of the officers who was wounded in a shootout with Chelsea bomb suspect Ahmad Khan Rahimi.

As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, the video comes from Monday, Sept. 19, two days after the pipe bomb explosions in Chelsea and in Seaside Park, New Jersey.

It shows Linden police Officer Angel Padilla rolling up to Merdie's Tavern on Elizabeth Avenue.

The owner, Harry Bains, had reported a suspicious man sleeping in the vestibule of the bar.

"It's been a month now so I was almost getting back into my life, so now watching that video it brings all that memory back," Bains told WCBS 880's Sean Adams.

The bodycam video starts with Padilla behind the wheel of his patrol car, calling out of his window.

"You can't be sleeping on somebody's door," Padilla says on the tape at the start of their encounter.

The bodycam video then briefly shows suspect Rahimi, and Padilla is heard questioning him.

Padilla: What's your name?

Rahimi: "What?"

Padilla: "What's your name?"

Rahimi: "Ahmad."

Padilla: "What's your last name?"

Rahimi: "Khan."

Padilla: "Huh?"

Rahimi: "Khan."

Padilla:: "You got ID on you or no?"

Rahimi: "No, no ID."

Padilla: "You don't have anything with ID?"

Rahimi: "No I don't."

Padilla: "Where do you live?"

Rahimi: "Hey, I'm homeless."

Padilla: "What do you mean you're homeless?"

Rahimi: "I haven't had a house for two weeks."

Padilla: "Where did you used to live?"

Rahimi: "I lived in Perth Amboy."

Padilla: "In Perth Amboy?"

Rahimi: "Yeah. I had lost my job and I couldn't pay my rent."

Padilla then calls for additional police.

The Union County Prosecutor's office said at that point, the officer realized he was talking to the Chelsea bombing suspect.

In a letter to CBS2, the office said the rest of the video is exempt from release, "as it constitutes criminal investigatory records." Thus, the exchange of gunfire – prompted when Padilla challenged Rahimi – does not appear.

"He then told the person, 'Show me your hands,' and at that point, the suspect went to his side, pulled out a handgun and fired a round at our officer," said Linden police Capt. James Sarnicki.

Padilla was shot in the torso in the gunfight with Rahimi, but was saved by his bulletproof vest. Linden police Officer Pete Hammer was grazed in the head during the gunfight.

Rahimi was shot seven times. He made a video link court appearance two weeks ago, pleading not guilty to attempted murder of the police officers.