Driver Circles, Speeds, Drags Trooper On Highway: Report

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A man who is accused of driving first in circles and then the wrong way on Interstate -84 before dragging a trooper was to appear in court Monday to face several charges, state police said.

The incident took place at about 2 a.m. Saturday morning on the westbound side of I-84 in Southington, state police said.

According to a crash report, when police arrived, they found 35-year-old Michael Newman, of Salt Lake City, UT, driving in circles on I-84. His vehicle eventually stopped facing the wrong way, according to a crash report.

When troopers were trying to remove Newman from his vehicle, Newman resisted and then drove off, dragging a trooper in the process, according to to an arrest report.

Newman then turned the vehicle in the proper direction and intentionally hit a state police cruiser before crossing from I-84 west to I-84 east then back to I-84 west in an attempt to elude capture, according to a nearest report.

State police tried to subdue him with a taser, but it did not make contact with Newman, state police said.

Newman was eventually taken out of his vehicle and put in a state police "cage car," according to an arrest repot.

Newman was charged with:

• First-degree reckless endangerment
• First-degree criminal mischief
• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence
• Assault on a public safety officer

He was held over the weekend on a $25,000 bond, state police said.