Connecticut State Troopers Injured During Altercation With Pedestrian on Merritt Parkway

It was Thursday, Thanksgiving afternoon, at around 2:30 pm when State police troopers were dispatched to a scene unfolding between Exits 40 and 41 on the Merritt Parkway in Norwalk.

According to the Connecticut State Police, the man, who appeared to be in his late 20s, was crouching behind the concrete barrier in the right shoulder. As police began their approach, they tried communicating with the man who reportedly then sprang up and vaulted over the concrete wall.

Imagine being a spectator to this dangerous situation? Would you pull over and attempt to help? Instead, after jumping over the barrier, the man began running across the northbound lanes into traffic, according to a police report.

Once the officers caught up with the suspect, police say that a fight broke out, and that's when the troopers reportedly tasered the man. During the altercation, the troopers involved suffered cuts and bruises to their hands and faces, but with the help of a driver who had pulled over, the three of them could subdue the suspect. After the arrest, the state troopers received treatment for their cuts at Norwalk Hospital.

Then, in a similar but unrelated incident three days later, on Nov. 28, Connecticut State Police responded to a two-car accident on I-91 northbound near exit 40. When police arrived, one of the drivers had gotten out of the car and was standing in what's been described as a "precarious position," where he was in danger from speeding cars.

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When police reportedly attempted to move the driver to a safer location physically, they say a skirmish began, but the officers could take the driver into custody. Unfortunately, while the struggle was going on, the other vehicle allegedly left the scene and was not located yet.

Is it my imagination, or are more individuals becoming unnecessarily unruly on highways, airplanes, grocery stores, etc.? I can't help but wonder if the after-effects of all the world's craziness recently might also be affecting the mental health of specific individuals. I think there may be a correlation.