UPDATE 9:35 a.m.: Police have recovered the vehicle used in the incident where an officer was severely injured. Police are doing a track of the the area with police dogs in area of Sandy Brook Drive and Blake Road. Officers are going door to door seeking informaiton. Police Chief Wardwell believe a citizen saw the description of the car on the news and called it in at approximately 8:20 a.m. this morning.
The vehicle will be seized and police are currently getting a searh warrant. Police have not determined how many suspects there are or released a description to the public yet.
As police were giving an 8 a.m. press conference on the events of last night that left an officer critically injured, more than two dozen officers ran out of the press conference to head to a Sandy Hook Drive address. It is believed the suspect is holed up at that location.
The injured officer has been in surgery for several hours as of 8 a.m. this morning, said Police Chief James Wardwell. He is expected to be in surgery for several more.
NEW BRITAIN -- Police released the following statement. They are looking for a blue 2011 Hyundai Sonata with tinted windows, license plate number 491ZUO in connection with an incident where an officer was run over and dragged by the vehicle.
On January 19, 2014, at approximately 8:02 PM, New Britain Police were dispatched to the area of North Street and Willow Street on the report of a stolen motor vehicle. Less than thirty minutes later, a New Britain Police Officer located the reported stolen vehicle in the rear of 56 Wilcox Street. The officer approached the vehicle to investigate further and was struck, run over, and dragged up the long driveway at that location and into the street. The vehicle was last seen traveling north on Wilcox Street, leaving the badly wounded officer lying in the roadway. Two other New Britain Police Officers arrived on scene a few seconds later and located the injured officer. The officers administered first aid and called for Paramedics. The injured officer was transported to an area trauma hospital and is currently undergoing surgery for serious injuries sustained in this incident.
The vehicle which struck the officer and fled the scene is a Blue 2011 Hyundai Sonata with tinted windows – CT Registration 491ZUO.
Any person with information about this incident or the above listed vehicle should call the New Britain Police Department at (860) 826-3000. The vehicle should not be approached and the person or person(s) operating the vehicle should be considered dangerous.
The name of the injured officer is not being disclosed at this time while family members are being notified.
