Man Charged With Assaulting Police Officer

What began as an investigation into a possible burglary ended in an alleged assault against a police officer, police said.

Conor McEntee, 25, of Washington Avenue in Waterbury, was taken into custody Monday afternoon after police said he struck Middlebury police Lt. Richard Wildman in the head, leaving him with minor injuries. Wildman was assisting Naugatuck police during a suspicious person search on North Church Street.

McEntee was taken into custody on charges of assaulting a police officer, interfering with an officer and simple trespass.

According to Lt. Robert Harrison, Naugatuck police spokesman, officers were dispatched to the North Church Street area at 2:56 p.m. for a possible burglary about to happen. A witness working outside of a home told police she saw a white male with long, light brown hair — later identified as McEntee — walk around the exterior of a home, Harrison said.

The witness reported that McEntee opened one of the glass doors and looked through the windows of the home, Harrison said. Police said it was unclear whether or not McEntee entered the home, however the witness began following the suspect as he walked north on Church Street, police said. After that, the witness contacted police.

When a Naugatuck officer arrived, McEntee ran into a wooded area near Hop Brook Dam, which lies near the borders between Naugatuck, Waterbury and Middlebury. Officers from all three municipal departments, as well as the Connecticut State Police, then began assisting in the search for the suspect, Harrison said.  

Police later determined McEntee was wanted on two active arrest warrants for a failure to appear in court, both of which were served by the Naugatuck Police Department.

Harrison said the only previous charges against McEntee was an assault.

The homeowner was notified and returned to his residence and reported that nothing appeared to be missing, Harrison said.