Man Struck 2 Meriden Police Officers With Van: Police

MERIDEN, CT — A man is facing a litany of charges as he is accused of striking two officers with a vehicle in a Sunday incident, according to police. At about 10:30 p.m., a sergeant sitting in a police cruiser on a traffic detail near 1127 N. Colony Road was struck by a Dodge Caravan.

The driver fled the crash. The sergeant's car was inoperable and the sergeant sustained injuries, though police said they "do not appear to be overly serious in nature."

Officers later located the van on Hicks Avenue. Police attempted to approach the suspect’s van, but he began to drive away at a very slow speed.

The driver made a U-turn and drove in the direction of one of the officers. Because the van was driving at such a slow speed, the officer was able to open the driver’s side door of the van. The suspect's van then struck the foot of the arresting officer, but he was not injured.

Thomas Popham, 62, of 215 Stratford Road in New Britain, was charged with operating under the influence, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, assault of a police officer, and numerous other motor vehicle crimes.

He was held on $100,000 bond and will appear in court July 23.