Southington Police Spat At During Stop & Shop Ruckus

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Local police released information Tuesday about a bizarre incident with a suspect that involved spitting and generally belligerent behavior at a Stop & Shop parking lot.

According to the Southington Police Department, Sunday Okoro, 26, of 127 Landers Ave., New Britain, was charged July 7 with reckless driving; assault on a public safety officer; disorderly conduct; and unsafe backing.

After an initial court appearance July 8, Okoro will be arraigned in New Britain Superior Court July 22, according to the State of Connecticut's judicial branch website.

According to a Southington police release issued Tuesday, on Thursday, July 7, at about 3:14 p.m., officers patrolling North Main Street noticed a Toyota Camry commit a motor vehicle violation on Curtiss Street while traveling to North Main, into the entrance of a Stop & Shop parking lot.

According to police, the driver — later identified as Okoro — "refused to stop his vehicle for police, prior to putting his vehicle in reverse and recklessly backing, the wrong way, at a high rate of speed up the entrance lane into a parking lot for the store."

Police said Okoro then exited his vehicle and refused to follow officer’s instructions, while walking away from officers with his hands in front of his chest.

Police officers attempting to take Okoro into custody encountered resistance, after Okoro became "very agitated and combative, while screaming at officers in a state of excited delirium."

After his arrest, Okoro was attempting to spit on officers, requiring officers to continue to restrain him before moving him to a police vehicle, police said.

Okoro was, eventually, transported to an area hospital for a medical evaluation and treatment.

Officers and Okoro each sustained minor injuries in the incident.

For Okoro's online court records, click on this link.

For the Southington Police Department's Facebook page, click on this link.