Police in Newington, Connecticut, are searching for a driver they say deliberately rammed a police cruiser, not once but twice, before speeding off. Investigators are treating the collisions as an intentional act rather than an accident, and they are now turning to the public for help in identifying the person behind the wheel.
The confrontation played out on Tuesday at the Dollar Tree store on Cedar Street, a spot that suddenly became the scene of a dangerous encounter between an officer and a driver. What began as a stop in a store parking lot quickly escalated into a case that has Newington police reviewing the moment and asking for tips.
According to police, the vehicle involved, a Honda, matched the description of a car that had previously fled from officers. That earlier flight is part of what drew police attention to the car again, setting up the traffic stop that would end with a cruiser being struck and the driver once more getting away.
The way it unfolded is what alarmed authorities. Police said that when they pulled the driver over, the Honda accelerated forward and slammed into the cruiser. Rather than stopping there, the driver then threw the car into reverse and drove into the police vehicle a second time, turning the car itself into a weapon.
After the two impacts, the driver managed to escape and remains at large. The deliberate nature of the collisions, striking a marked police car head-on and then again in reverse, has made finding the person a priority for the department as it works to track down whoever was driving the Honda.
Newington police are now asking for the community's help in the search. Officers said that anyone who knows the driver, or who has information that could help identify the person, should reach out to them. The investigation into the ramming and the earlier flight from police is continuing.