Man Fights With Troopers After Abandoning Disabled Truck In Westport

WESTPORT, CT — A 35-year-old Washington, DC man was arrested on assault and cruelty to animals charges Wednesday morning, after Connecticut State Police said the man fought with troopers and tried to choke a police K-9 after the suspect abandoned his disabled truck on I-95 in Westport.

The police K-9, Gatti, was not injured in the melee, but multiple troopers suffered minor injuries while trying to subdue the suspect.

Arrested was James Wesley Aldridge, who was charged with the following:

• Assault on a Public Safety Officer (six counts)
• Cruelty to Animals (two counts)
• Interfering with an Officer
• Reckless Use of a Highway by a Pedestrian
• Improper Parking
• Operating/Parking an Unregistered Motor Vehicle

The incident began at about 11:30 a.m., when state police received a call about a disabled tractor trailer truck "in a hazardous location in the median portion of the highway," near Exit 17 southbound on I-95 in Westport.

"Prior to reaching the tractor trailer, the trooper was advised that the tractor trailer operator was observed leaving the scene on an electric scooter, crossed the three travel lanes of the highway, and was last seen driving the electric scooter southbound in the right shoulder," state police officials wrote in a news release.

The trooper spotted the suspect on the scooter and pulled him over on the right shoulder of the thruway.

"During their interactions, Aldridge became hostile and uncooperative toward the Trooper, throwing his scooter to the ground and advancing toward the Trooper in an aggressive manner," state police said. "The Trooper issued multiple directives for Aldridge to sit down, but Aldridge ignored the Troopers instructions."

The trooper then released K-9 Gatti, but Aldridge fled on the scooter, and the dog could not catch up to him.

Aldridge got off the thruway at Exit 17, and two troopers were waiting for him.

"Aldridge began to actively fight with Troopers and physically resisted Troopers’ efforts to secure him in handcuffs," state police said. "The initial responding Trooper arrived on scene and observed Aldridge actively fighting the other Troopers."

At that time, K-9 Gatti was again released and bit Aldridge in the thigh while trying to subdue him. Aldridge tried to choke the dog, but troopers quickly wrestled it away from him.

"With the assistance of Westport Officers, Troopers were able to gain control of Aldridge," state police said. "After being secured in handcuffs, EMS was requested. Aldridge continued to display aggressive and combative behavior, to include spitting at investigators, and was subsequently transported to an area hospital for evaluation."

State police learned that there was an active warrant for Aldridge's arrest from Grain Valley, Missouri, on a felony charge of first-degree harassment, and he was additionally charged with being a fugitive from justice.

Aldridge is currently being held in lieu of bail of $70,000, and is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Sept. 30.