Police Say They Captured Norwich Man Who Assaulted Clinton Police Officer: UPDATE

UPDATE: The Clinton Police Department with the assistance of the Norwich and Montville Police Departments located Chad Dandria hiding in a residence in the town of Montville just after 5 p.m this afternoon, police said.

Dandria was taken into custody without incident, transported to Clinton Police Department and is currently being held on a $500,000 court set bond, police said. Dandria is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow at Middlesex Superior Court.

CLINTON, CT — The Clinton Police is searching for a Norwich man who is accused of assaulting a police officer while trying to flee from police after being involved in a shoplifting incident earlier at Clinton Crossing Outlets Wednesday evening, police said.

Police say Chad Dandria, 29, of Woods Drive in Norwich, struck a police officer in the head when the officer was trying to take him into custody, causing the officer to fall down a steep embankment and suffer injuries, which led to a brief stay at a hospital.

Dandria was involved in a shoplifting incident at Clinton Crossing Outlets Wednesday evening just after 6 p.m., police said. Dandria and an accomplice named Joseph Salimeno were suspected of committing the shoplifting at Clinton Crossing and witnesses advised police the pair fled the off Clinton Crossing property toward Route 81, police said.

Shortly after the incident was reported, the pair was observed on foot in the area of the Petco/Dunkin Donuts Shopping complex (located directly across the street from the exit of Clinton Crossing), police said. Officers approached the pair and Salimeno was taken into custody without incident, however Dandria fled on foot from the officers, into the thick wooded area behind the shopping complex, police said.

Officers scoured the area looking for Dandria. Officers responded to several tips from area residents reporting seeing someone in their yards, but Dandria was not located, police said. Clinton Police were assisted in the search by officers and canine units from both the State Police and the Madison Police, police said.

Shortly after 9 p.m., a Clinton Police Officer located Dandria behind the Shell Gas station located at 115 High Street, police said. The officer approached Dandria, and attempted to take Dandria into custody, police said.

Dandria resisted arrest and struck the officer in the head during the struggle, police sad.

"As a result of the assault, the officer lost his footing and fell down a steep embankment behind the gas station. As a result of the fall the officer sustained several abrasions and lacerations to his head. The officer was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital via Clinton Fire Department Ambulance as a result of his injuries. The officer was treated and eventually released from the hospital earlier today," Clinton police said in a news release.

Dandria was able to avoid apprehension at that moment, and despite a methodical and systematic search of the area, he was able to elude capture entirely, police said. It is believed that Dandria is no longer in the Clinton area, police said.

An arrest warrant for Dandria was secured and the Clinton Police are asking for the public’s help in trying to locate him, police said. Dandria is currently wanted on the charges of: Assault on an officer; Interfering with an officer; Larceny in the Fifth Degree; and Conspiracy.

Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of Chad Dandria are urged to call the Clinton Police at 860-669-0451 or your local police agency. Dandria should be considered dangerous and would recommend the public not approach him, police said.