Groton Suspect Assaults, Injures 3 Officers: Police

GROTON, CT — Three police officers were injured following a struggle with a suspect they were taking into custody Sunday, according to Town of Groton police.

Police received multiple 911 calls from a home on North Road at 7:42 p.m.

The caller, a 41-year-old man, "repeatedly disconnected his calls prematurely and yelling could be heard in the background of the calls," according to police.

Dispatch received additional reports that the man was acting erratically, had assaulted a female, and was reported to be in possession of a knife.

Officers responded and arrived to find the man at the end of the driveway. He was unarmed but ran into traffic attempting to stop cars, police said. He appeared intoxicated and was in a highly agitated state.

Police were initially able to deescalate the situation and spoke with the man. Officers spoke with others present determining that the man would be arrested on domestic violence charges.

When officers told the man he was being arrested on domestic violence charges, "he began to tense up, once again became agitated and started to walk away from officers toward his house," according to police.

The man did not comply with officers who "repeatedly attempted to verbally calm (him) down."

Police attempted to take the man into custody, but he physically resisted officers' efforts and refused to follow their commands, police said.

Officers eventually took him to the ground and a struggle ensued. Following a "prolonged physical struggle," police finally secured the man in handcuffs.

Three officers were injured during the struggle, including one who was treated at Pequot Health Center’s Emergency Room. The officer was released but remains out of work due to the injuries.

A second officer received significant abrasions to both his knees, while a third officer received abrasions to his head, face, both knees and hands, according to police.

The man was taken to police headquarters and charged with disorderly conduct, three counts of assault on a police officer, and interfering with an officer.

He was later released on a $10,000 non-surety bond. He was then taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for evaluation. He was arraigned Monday at New London Superior Court.

The case remains under investigation.