By Lisa Redmond
Lowell Sun
LOWELL, Mass. — Daniel J. Rondeau must have thought he hit the jackpot when he allegedly rummaged through an unlocked car and discovered an iPad and a Blackberry.
But the 19-year-old Dracut man would soon learn he picked the wrong car.
Lowell police Officer Christopher Purtell was getting ready to drive to work at 12:47 a.m. Tuesday when he went back into his Chapman Street home in Dracut to get something to drink, leaving his iPad in his car. When Purtell walked back to the driveway, he saw his passenger-side door open. Someone was in the car.
When Purtell, dressed for work in his Lowell police uniform, identified himself as a police officer, Rondeau allegedly took off running with Purtell in pursuit. Rondeau allegedly stopped suddenly, assumed a fighter’s stance and yelled to Purtell, “I’m not going to jail.”
Purtell and Rondeau began to scuffle, with Rondeau punching Purtell in the chest and face, according to reports. Purtell punched Rondeau, who fell to the ground, according to court records. On the ground, Rondeau resisted being handcuffed until he was hit with a chemical spray.
Purtell was treated and released at a local hospital for lacerations to his right hand. There were also concerns that Rondeau’s blood had splattered on Purtell. Police say Rondeau is a known heroin user, but he agreed to take a blood test.
Rondeau told police he had broken into three of four cars, including Purtell’s, stealing property from the vehicles, court records state.
When officers recovered the items stolen from Purtell’s car, they noticed that his iPad had a cracked screen.
In Lowell District Court Tuesday, Rondeau, of 24 Chapman St., was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty to breaking and entering, larceny over $250, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and vandalizing property.
His next court date is Oct. 17 for a pretrial conference.
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