Hartford man accused of threatening to kill CT state police sergeant, engaging in high-speed pursuit
A Hartford man accused of threatening to kill a Connecticut State Police sergeant before engaging him in a high-speed pursuit is facing multiple charges.
The incident began when a state police sergeant, who was not wearing a uniform but had his badge displayed around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, was getting to his vehicle on Asylum Street in Hartford. A man, later identified as 29-year-old Raymond Lapinski, allegedly began to yell at the sergeant from a silver Honda Accord and asked whether he was “a cop,” according to a statement from state police Wednesday.
After the sergeant confirmed he was a member of law enforcement, Lapinski allegedly stated that he “kills cops.” Lapinski then reportedly began to use profanities as he threatened to kill the sergeant, state police said.
The sergeant approached the Honda and issued verbal orders to Lapinski. As the sergeant attempted to take Lapinski into custody, Lapinski allegedly ignored the orders and fled in the car, traveling westbound on Asylum Street. The sergeant recorded the license plate number and called it into Troop H dispatch, according to state police.
Lapinski reportedly stopped the Honda a short distance away, leaned out the window, displayed an obscene hand gesture and yelled profanities at the sergeant before driving off, state police said.
A short time later, the sergeant saw the Honda driving on Pulaski Circle and attempted to make a motor vehicle stop by activating his emergency lights and siren. The Honda then reportedly accelerated as it entered the Whitehead Highway, traveling toward Interstate 91, According to state police, the Honda was observed being driven recklessly at speeds in excess of 100 mph on I-91 South in the area of Exit 28. In the interest of public safety, efforts to stop the Honda were terminated, state police said.
During the investigation, the state police sergeant positively identified the Honda’s registered owner as Lapinski. A database check showed that Lapinski had active arrest warrants from two local police departments.
State police and the Hartford Police Department were able to locate Lapinski at 9:16 a.m. on Tuesday as he was walking in the area of Asylum Avenue and Ann Ucello Street in Hartford. Lapinski was ordered to lay down on the ground by state troopers. He then allegedly reached toward his waistband and grabbed a knife, state police said.
As troopers drew their weapons, Lapinski dropped the knife, which was secured and seized as evidence, state police said. He was then taken into police custody.
Lapinski reportedly began resisting arrest as he was placed in a Hartford police cruiser, becoming combative with troopers and yelling obscenities, state police said. A state police detective and the sergeant he was previously accused of threatening sustained minor injuries during the struggle, according to state police.
Lapinski was transported to the Hartford Correctional Center where he was processed and charged with two counts of assault of a public safety officer, first-degree criminal attempt to commit assault, interfering with an officer and carrying a dangerous weapon.
Lapinski was held in lieu of a $1 million bond and transferred to the custody of the Connecticut Department of Correction pending his arraignment on Wednesday at Hartford Superior Court.
The arrest warrant for Lipinski related to the threatening incident and pursuit was approved on Tuesday by Hartford Superior Court. State police served the warrant while Lipinski was being held in DOC custody on Wednesday, charging him with second-degree threatening, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving and disobeying the signal of an officer/attempting to elude or escape an officer.
A $100,000 cash/surety bond in connection with that incident also was imposed on Lapinski, who also was scheduled for a second arraignment Wednesday, on those charges, at Hartford Superior Court.
Arrests from several additional jurisdictions are anticipated, state police said.