By David Funkhouser
Hartford Courant
GUILFORD, Conn. — Police used Tasers to subdue a suspect wanted in connection with an assault in New Haven after the man pulled a knife on them when they confronted him on Shore Drive Tuesday, police said.
“The Tasers probably saved us from a police shooting,” Deputy Police Chief Jeff Hutchinson said. “It showed a whole lot of restraint on the part of the officers.
“And he should be thankful that they did.”
Hutchinson said New Haven police asked Guilford to help find Robert Coady, 42, in connection with an assault in the city on Tuesday. Coady hit a male victim twice in the head with a hammer at 525 Edgewood Ave., according to New Haven police. The victim was treated at the Hospital of St. Raphael for non-life-threatening injuries.
Officer Michael Doody located Coady near a relative’s home on Shore Drive, but Coady refused to cooperate and started to run away, police said.
Doody caught up with Coady, but Coady refused to comply with an order to take his hands out of his pockets, police said. Officer Juan Mulero pulled up in a second cruiser and approached Coady from behind, Hutchinson said.
Molero saw Coady pull a knife from his pocket and drew his pistol, police said. Doody fired his Taser. The shot made Coady drop his knife but did not subdue him, police said. Molero holstered his gun, pulled his Taser and fired, and Doody fired a second Taser shot, which worked, police said.
Hutchinson said all Guilford officers carry the Tasers, which shoot a pair of probes that transmit a powerful electrical signal that can incapacitate a suspect.
Coady is charged with attempted assault, attempted interfering with an officer, carrying a dangerous weapon and resisting arrest in the Guilford incident. He was arraigned in Superior Court in New Haven Tuesday. Coady was being held, with bail set at $100,000
Coady was arraigned in the New Haven incident Wednesday, charged with assault, threatening and kidnapping. Bail on those charges was set at $75,000 and he remained in custody. Both cases were continued to April 19.
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