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At about 5 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 12, Connecticut State troopers and Montville Police responded to a report that a vehicle had crashed into a guardrail in New London County at the intersection of Route 12 and Route 2A in Preston, Connecticut State Police reported.
EMS arrived at the scene first and saw the driver in possession of a handgun, police said.
Police identified the driver as 25-year-old Presley Almanzar-DeJesus, of Norwalk.
Police said Almanzar-DeJesus began walking away from the scene of the crash toward the woods, and a Montville Police Officer began to walk toward the woods.
Almanzar-DeJesus pointed the gun at the officer, and the officer drew his firearm, police said.
Authorities said Almanzar-DeJesus then ran further into the woods, and the officer sent a K9 after him.
The K9 latched onto Almanzar-DeJesus' leg, and Almanzar-DeJesus began punching the dog and gouging at the dog's eyes, police said.
The Montville Police officer used a TASER device to subdue Almanzar-DeJesus and arrest him, authorities said.
During a search of the vehicle and the surrounding area, investigators found a loaded high-capacity magazine, a .38 Special Revolver and a Glock 9mm, police reported.
The Special Revolver and the Glock had both been stolen from Bridgeport, police said.
State Police said Almanzar-DeJesus was charged with the following:
- Operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Failure to drive in proper lane
- Cruelty to animals/Injure peace officer animal
- Assault on a police officer
- Interfering with police
- Possession of a high capacity magazine
- Two counts of criminal possession of a firearm
- Two counts of possession of a stolen firearm
- Two counts of carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit
- Two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon
- First-degree criminal attempt at assault
- First-degree threatening
- Criminal use of a firearm
Almanzar-DeJesus was scheduled to appear in court on Monday, Dec. 13.
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