Crime & Safety
Armed Bridgeport Man Who Fought Troopers Found After Weeks-Long Search: State Police
BREAKING: Police say the man was found Tuesday morning after he drove the wrong way on Rte. 8 to escape state troopers.
BRIDGEPORT, CT — A convicted felon from Bridgeport was found Tuesday after state police say he assaulted state troopers before fleeing the scene of a traffic stop on I-95 North in Bridgeport in April, State Police announced Tuesday. Police say that Robert Bowens, 33, of Bridgeport was found in the are of Pearl Harbor Street and was taken into custody at around 7:20 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Bowens is accused of fighting and injuring state troopers during a traffic stop on April 22 and escaping troopers. Police say that multiple jurisdictions assisted with Bowens' arrest.
Police say that at 6:25 on April 22, Bowens was stopped near Exit 27 on I-95 North for vehicle violations, and troopers say that his vehicle contained contraband and Bowens allowed them to search his vehicle. Police found "several illegal items" and gave verbal commands in order to detain him, causing Bowens to run away.
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After an attempt to use a taser on Bowens was ineffective, a struggle ensued and Bowens produced a firearm. During the fight, police say Bowens' family members arrived on scene and were yelling at troopers during the fight.
Bowens was able to break free and jump into a grey Infiniti suspected to be driven by one of his family members, police say. He was able to escape troopers by driving northbound on the southbound flyover of Rte. 8.
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The troopers received minor abrasions during the struggle with Bowens.
He was charged with two counts of criminal attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of assaulting a police officer, reckless driving, criminal possession of a firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle, possessing a pistol without a permit, criminal possession of ammunition and criminal possession of an electronic defense weapon. He was held on a a court set bond of $500,000, as well as two violation of probation warrants each with a court set bond of $100,000. He was due for arraignment in Bridgeport Superior Court Tuesday morning.
Image via the Connecticut State Police.
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