State Police Need Help Identifying Man Who Nearly Struck Trooper

ENFIELD, CT — State police are seeking the public's help in identifying a motorist who nearly struck a trooper with his car last month in the parking lot of the Home Depot store in Enfield.

On March 15 around 11:55 a.m., an off-duty trooper was flagged down by a citizen in the parking lot, and told a man was slumped over the steering wheel in his parked car nearby. The trooper put on identifiable clothing and his body-worn camera, and placed his cruiser in front of the car with the cruise lights activated. The trooper then approached the car and saw a man asleep behind the wheel, according to a state police report.

The trooper awakened the man, who then rolled down his window. After identifying himself, the trooper observed signs of narcotic use and believed the man was under the influence. The man was asked to step out of the car, a white 2000-2003 Nissan Maxima with passenger side rear bumper damage, but instead he placed it in reverse, then negotiated around the cruiser and took off at a high rate of speed in the parking lot, nearly striking the trooper as well as several patrons exiting and entering the Home Depot, state police said.

A brief pursuit ended when the suspect turned his car the wrong way down a one-way divided roadway. Enfield police were notified, but attempts to locate the car were unsuccessful.

The plate on the car was identified later as being canceled and listed as stolen.

Anyone with information or tips regarding the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Connecticut State Police Troop C at 860-896-3200 ext. 8071, or email Kyle.Kaelberer@ct.gov.

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