Hartford Man Charged After Vehicle Slams Berlin PD Cruiser: PD

BERLIN/HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man is in custody after Berlin police accused him of being in a vehicle that rammed a BPD cruiser after police caught both breaking into cars Saturday.

The driver of that vehicle remains at large, the Berlin Police Department said Tuesday.

According to the BPD, Andrew Bailey, 34, of Hartford, was charged with several violations associated with the incident, including third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal trespassing, criminal attempt at fifth-degree larceny, interfering with an officer/resisting arrest, and criminal attempt at assault of a public safety officer, among others.

Bailey, who is believed to have been the passenger in the suspect vehicle, was taken into custody on $500,000 bond on Saturday, the BPD said.

Police said on Saturday, Aug. 16, Berlin police officers responded to a report of masked individuals attempting to break into vehicles at a local auto dealership.

Responding officers quickly located a suspect vehicle at another dealership north of the original scene, police said.

"As officers attempted to stop the suspects, the vehicle rammed a police cruiser before fleeing at a high rate of speed," the BPD said in a release.

"The suspects drove recklessly, reversing down the Berlin Turnpike, before crashing into a utility pole."

Police said one suspect fled on foot while the driver continued southbound in the northbound lanes, ultimately abandoning the vehicle in a nearby parking lot.

The driver then ran into a wooded area, police said.

According to the BPD, officers located Bailey and took him into custody.

He was determined to have been the passenger in the suspect vehicle as the driver remains outstanding.

Police said the abandoned vehicle, which had significant damage, was found to contain multiple stolen tires and rims.

At the original scene, a vehicle on the lot had been damaged during the suspects’ attempt to remove rims and force entry, police said.

Meanwhile, police said Bailey, a convicted felon on the deadly weapons registry, was uncooperative while at the police department and attempted to flood his holding cell.

The BPD's response to the incident drew praise from Berlin police officials.

"Berlin police commend the outstanding work of all personnel involved, including the quick response and coordination by officers and dispatch staff," wrote the BPD.

"Their efforts ensured the safe apprehension of a dangerous suspect and the protection of the community."
This case remains under investigation.

Local police also noted a disturbing trend in recent suspect encounters with officers.

"This is the fourth Berlin police cruiser to be rammed by a fleeing suspect in a short period of time, showing a disturbing trend in the state and other area departments," wrote the BPD.

"This trend puts officers and citizens at risk as well as costing municipalities thousands of dollars in vehicle repairs."