Man Rams 2 Police Cars, Engages In 'Violent Struggle' On I-84: Police

SOUTHBURY, CT — A Wolcott man is accused of running across Interstate 84, stealing a construction worker's personal truck, ramming two occupied state police cruisers, and then engaging in a "violent struggle" with both troopers, state police said Thursday.

The accused attempted to take a trooper's gun from his holster and civilian motorists stopped to offer assistance, state police said. Robert C. Brown, 31, was taken into custody after a Taser was used, state police said.

At 7:58 a.m. Thursday, troopers from Troop A responded to I-84 eastbound near Exit 13 for a motor vehicle "actively being stolen," state police said.

"It was reported that a passenger jumped out of a vehicle traveling on I-84 Westbound and ran across the highway to the Eastbound side," state police wrote. "(Brown) then stole a construction worker's personal truck, continued Eastbound and intentionally rammed two occupied State Police cruisers in the median. A foot pursuit ensued for approximately 300 yards."

Brown resisted arrest and during the "violent struggle," he is accused of attempting to take the trooper's firearm from his holster, state police said. Two troopers were hospitalized with minor injuries and the civilians who stopped were not injured, state police said. Brown also incurred minor injuries, state police said.

Brown faces several charges and is being held in lieu of a $1 million bond.