Bench Dedicated To Injured Farmington Police Officer

FARMINGTON, CT — The Farmington Police Department has received a special bench dedicated to Officer James O'Donnell, who was injured in the line of duty in the fall.

Ed Cutler who donated the handmade custom bench, Farmington police said Thursday. Cutler has made hundreds of benches for injured first responders and military veterans across the country, police said.

O'Donnell was hurt in a violent car crash associated with a stolen car on Sept. 20.

At 12:50 that morning, Farmington police responded to a report about an active theft involving a motor vehicle in the area of 1 Talcott Notch Road. The thieves attempted to flee the scene and the car hit O'Donnell, who had just exited his police vehicle, according to a report.

He was pinned between cars and suffered "devastating pelvic injuries," police said.

Additional officers pursued the getaway car, which was reported stolen out of Middletown. It crashed into a wooded area and the suspects then fled on foot, police said. Multiple dog teams searched the area, but thee suspects were not located.

The driver of the car was tracked down in early October and is facing first-degree assault charges in the case. See more about the incident here.

O'Donnell has undergone intense surgical procedures and is facing a lengthy recovery period, police said.