Crime & Safety

Police: Man Tries to Flee Police Custody

The 32-year-old man had led police on a multi-town pursuit just the day before.

On Saturday, Kenneth Lyden, 32, was being placed in a cruiser outside St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury when he escaped from custody and took control of the car.

The man was caught just a short time later in Waterbury with the help of Waterbury and Prospect police.

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On Friday, at 3:06 a.m., state troopers from Troop A initiated a traffic stop for a speeding motor vehicle on Interstate 84 westbound in the area of exit 10. The operator refused to stop and at exit 6, troopers deployed stop sticks in an attempt to stop the vehicle. However, the stop sticks were unsuccessful.

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The operator drove off the roadway at a high rate of speed towards a trooper who was outside his cruiser, assisting a motorist with an unrelated traffic incident in the area of exit 6.

The trooper discharged a round from his duty weapon. The round struck the vehicle and the vehicle continued off exit 6 through several towns before crashing in the area of Route 7 and Route 37 in New Milford.

At the crash site, Lyden exited his vehicle and engaged troopers and Danbury police officers in a physical altercation. During the struggle with the suspect, a taser was deployed on the suspect and he was eventually handcuffed.

Lyden was charged with criminal attempt first-degree assault, two counts of assault on a police officer, reckless endangerment, interfering, engaging in pursuit, reckless driving, and misuse of plates.

Several of the troopers involved were treated and released from Danbury Hospital.

The incident remains under investigation.

To read the full News-Times story, click here.

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