Waterbury Man Arrested

Following Police Pursuit

By Andrew Gorosko

About 7:10 am on Monday, September 20, state police began pursuing a Waterbury man, who had been involved in a minor motor vehicle accident near Exit 10 on westbound Interstate 84, and then fled from the accident scene.

State police said that Edgardo Rodriguez, 25, of Waterbury was driving a white Ford Escort, which had struck an unspecified vehicle on the highway.

After spotting the fleeing Rodriguez in the Escort, state police pursued his vehicle. Rodriguez drove westward on the highway toward Danbury, and then turned around at Exit 6 in Danbury, after which he drove eastward on I-84 to Exit 15 in Southbury, state police said.

Rodriguez then drove southward to Ansonia, where he was eventually caught by Ansonia police.

Speeds during the chase were in the to 60-to-80-mph range, according to state police spokesman Lieutenant J. Paul Vance.

A state trooper had chased Rodriguez for several miles, but the chase was then terminated, according to the lieutenant. All area police agencies were given a description of the offending vehicle.

Ansonia police advised state police at the Troop A barracks in Southbury that the Escort had been spotted in Ansonia.

Rodriguez then stopped the Escort and fled on foot, after which he was caught by Ansonia police, Lt Vance said. State police went to Ansonia and took the suspect into their custody.

Rodriguez was transported to Troop A where he was charged with multiple offenses stemming from the incident.

According to Lt Vance, Rodriguez was charged with: engaging police in pursuit, attempted assault on a police officer, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, and disregarding state traffic control signs.

Rodriguez was arraigned on the charges on September 21 in Danbury Superior Court. He was being held on $40,000 bail on September 22 in the Bridgeport Correctional Center. He is scheduled to appear again in court on October 5.