Man Who Ran Over Farmington Cop Sent To Prison: State

FARMINGTON/HARTFORD, CT — A New Britain man will spend the next 15 years behind bars following s sentencing last week for assaulting a Farmington police officer in 2021.

Sharmese L. Walcott, Hartford state’s attorney, said Monday that Pedro Acevedo, 36, of New Britain, pleaded guilty on Oct. 31 to first-degree assault with serious physical injury; assault of a public safety officer; and evading responsibility in the operation of a motor vehicle.

Walcott said Connecticut Superior Court Judge David P. Gold sentenced Acevedo to 15 years in prison for the assault charge and 10 years in prison for the assault of a police officer charge, to be served concurrently.

Additionally, the defendant received a two-year prison sentence for evading responsibility, also to be served concurrently, she said.

On Sept. 20, 2021, Farmington Police Officer James O'Donnell responded to a complaint at a condominium complex on Talcott Forest Road of two people in a white Nissan Altima stealing catalytic converters.

According to Walcott, when O’Donnell came upon the Altima - which was occupied at the time only by the driver — he activated his emergency lights and positioned his vehicle directly in front of the Altima.

She said the driver backed up the Altima and then pulled it forward.

When O’Donnell exited the police cruiser, the defendant moved the Altima forward, striking and pinning O’Donnell, Walcott said.

The Altima continued forward, dragging, O’Donnell the length of the police cruiser, according to Walcott.

With police in pursuit, the driver of the Altima drove over roadway islands until abandoning the vehicle on a dead-end road, she said.

The plate on the Altima came back to a vehicle stolen out of Middletown on Aug. 16, 2021.

During a search of the vehicle, police found two saws, two used catalytic converters, six different license plates, a black bandana, a blue surgical mask, and work gloves, Walcott said.

She said officers took DNA swabs and lifted fingerprints from the vehicle and investigators found a palm print on the Altima that matched the defendant’s and the defendant’s DNA was discovered during the probe.

As a result, Walcott said, police were able to track the defendant’s movements before and after the incident.

She said O’Donnell suffered a broken sacrum, multiple fractures of his pelvis, broken bones on his right foot, and deep contusions to his legs in the incident.

He was off the beat for a year as he recovered.

For the full announcement, click on this link.

From Sept. 22, 2022: 'Farmington Cop Badly Hurt On The Job Returns To Work After A Year'

From Oct. 5, 2021: 'Stolen Car Driver Accused Of Hitting Farmington Cop Arraigned'