Cop peels 5-foot python off Missouri woman’s arm with a butter knife

A southwest Missouri police officer his being called a hero for calmly peeling a 5-foot python off a woman’s arm after the snake sank its teeth into her arm and began to squeeze tightly.

The Springfield News-Leader reports Mount Vernon Police Cpl. Shaun Cobb went to the home of Leadeana Oetker on Friday after she told a 911 operator the python had latched onto her arm.

Oetker says the snake grabbed her when she reached into the 20-year-old reptile’s cage. Her stepson called 911 when her hand and arm started turning purple.

Cobb used the dull edge of a butter knife to force the snake’s jaw apart so he could detach it from her arm.

Oetker says she’ll let her boyfriend feed the snake from now on.

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 10:22 AM with the headline "Cop peels 5-foot python off Missouri woman’s arm with a butter knife."