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STAMFORD, Conn. A Stamford police officer who fell 20 feet from a Norwalk bridge abutment while chasing a robbery suspect remained in critical condition Friday afternoon, Stamford Sgt. Joseph Kennedy said. Friends and family of Officer Troy Strauser were hopeful his status would change soon.
Strauser was rushed to Norwalk Hospital early Thursday morning and underwent three different surgeries during the day on Thursday. Kennedy said doctors will be monitoring how well his medications and the procedures are taking effect over the next few days.
Everybody, family and fellow officers, are on edge hoping for the best, Kennedy said Friday afternoon, adding that all officers know that danger comes with the job, though that doesnt make it any easier.
The mishap occurred while Strauser was chasing a robbery suspect on the Reed Street bridge above I-95 in Norwalk. The suspect jumped into a wooded area near the abutment of the bridge and made it down to the highway, a police statement said. Strauser was unable to see the end of the structure and fell, landing on his face, the statement said.
Police arrested one suspect, Frank Douglass, of Norwalk, after he assaulted and choked a Stamford police dog, a release said. He was charged with second-degree robbery, assault on a police officer, cruelty to animals, interfering with a police officer, engaging in a pursuit and multiple motor vehicle charges.
The incident began in Stamford when police received a report of two men beating a third man. Police responded and were transporting the victim to the hospital when they spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspects and pursued it. The pursuit took officers through Stamford and Darien before the suspects crashed their vehicle in Norwalk and the foot chase began, police say.
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