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Daniel G. Rapuano, 36, of Naugatuck, was arrested on Thursday, Nov. 19, after state police responded to numerous 911 calls reporting an erratic driver on I-84, who was swerving across all three lanes and had nearly struck numerous vehicles, said the Connecticut State Police.
Several troopers responded to the area and spotted Rapuano east of West Hartford and were able to box him in and forced him to stop, state police said.
As troopers approached the vehicle, giving verbal commands, a trooper stepped on the running board of the vehicle due to its height and attempted to open the door, police said.
Rapuano allegedly refused to comply and instead sped off throwing the trooper into the center lane of traffic, state police said.
Due to the circumstances, troopers were given permission to ram Rapuano's vehicle in order to make a stop, police said. The trooper, who was thrown, was able to catch up to his vehicle and made contact with the rear right quarter panel, causing the vehicle to spin the center median just east of the off-ramp in West Hartford.
Rapuano was then taken into custody, arrested, and charged with:
- DUI
- Engaging in pursuit
- Assault
- Assault with a motor vehicle
- Assault on police
- Interfering
- Reckless endangerment
- Reckless driving
- Failure to maintain lane
Rapuano is a high-risk offender who was a supervised person on parole, state police said.
He was held on a $250,000 bond.
The trooper was treated to Hartford Hospital.
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