Suspect arrested, 2 officers injured after Norwich brawl that involved police from multiple agencies – NBC Connecticut

Two officers were hospitalized and a person accused of assaulting police officers was arrested after officers responded to a fight in a Norwich park on Saturday, police said. Police said officers from multiple departments responded and officers used pepper spray on a crowd that had “become hostile” toward police.

Initially, two Norwich police officers were dispatched to Jenkin’s Park after a woman called 911 at around 4:48 p.m. Saturday and asked police to come to Mechanic Street Park because of a possible dispute over her ex-boyfriend.

They found 200 to 300 people in the park, then observed a fight between ten and twenty people outside the fence near the basketball courts and ran to break up the fight, police reported.

When officers tried to separate the fighting people, several people jumped over the fence and got involved in the fight. The officers then called more officers for help, police said.

Before additional personnel arrived, one of the officers noticed a man bleeding from the nose and mouth and called an ambulance.

While they were waiting for the ambulance, a 23-year-old man ran from a parking lot across the street and punched another man in the back of the head. He also required medical attention, police said.

The nearby officer used pepper spray to deter the suspect from attacking the person, but the suspect ran away.

Additional officers responded and attempted to arrest the suspect, but he attacked the officers, put one of them in a chokehold, then punched the officer and kneed him in the head, police said.

Other officers beat the suspect and used pepper spray and a stun gun, causing him to release his chokehold on the officer, police said.

They then handcuffed the suspect and transported him.

According to police, the crowd became “hostile” towards the police officers and they used pepper spray against the people around them, but the crowd refused to leave the area.

Norwich Police issued a call for mutual aid and State Police, Montville Police, Ledyard Police and Killingly Police responded, the park was cleared and the event ended.

Two officers were taken to Backus Hospital for treatment of injuries, including facial and head injuries, police said.

The arrested man was held on $250,000 bail and charged with disturbing the peace, assault on a police officer, second-degree assault and obstructing an officer.

He was released after posting bail.

Norwich Police said they were aware of several social media videos, but said they did not clearly show what officers found.

They said police bodycam footage would be available in the near future, but that images of minors would need to be protected and redacted beforehand.

“We recognize that any use of force by an officer is visually and emotionally disturbing at first glance. However, we ask that you wait to pass judgment on Norwich Police and Norwich Police officers until all the facts are in,” the police said in a press release.

They said the investigation was ongoing.

Anyone who saw the incident or has video is asked to call Norwich Police at 860-886-5561.