Hamden Officer Injured During Struggle Sunday

A Hamden Police Officer was injured Sunday afternoon trying to subdue a man who was found stumbling in a private driveway on Shepard Avenue near his broken down car that allegedly had drugs in it.

At about 1 p.m. police got a report of a one-car accident on Shepard Avenue, according to police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith. 

When he got to the scene of the accident, Officer Michael DiMaria saw the driver, Joseph Sirois, 38, of 167 North Fountain St., Apt. B3, New Haven, stumbling in the private driveway, Smith said.

Sirois tried to take off but DiMaria was able to keep him there Sirios began to fight with him, Smith said. Two bystanders who were helping town crews with snow removal nearby helped DiMaria subdue Sirios, who during the struggle bit the officer's left wrist, Smith said.

DiMaria was treated for his injury at Yale – New Haven Hospital.

"The Hamden Police Department would like to thank the two bystanders for their assistance during this violent struggle," Smith said.

Officers found four packets of PCP and drug paraphernalia inside he car, Smith said. He was charged with assault on a police officer, possession of a hallucinogen, possession of drug paraphernalia and interfering with a police officer.

Sirois was held in lieu of $20,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on March 4.