From Westport Now: A 42-year-old man wanted for a parole violation led Westport police on a high speed chase for more than six miles early today into Weston where he was taken into custody after being Tasered in a foot chase, police said. It was the first time Westport police have used the stun gun in making an arrest since the town approved their purchase after much debate in October 2008. (See WestportNow Oct. 7, 2008) The incident began at 1:17 a.m. when officers located the man in a car in the commuter parking lot at Merritt Parkway Exit 42 on Weston Road, said Sergeant Michael Hayes. As officers approached, he started the vehicle and drove at them, striking one of them, Paul Wargo, a rookie who joined the department in February. The officer was not injured, Hayes said, but the man, identified as Richard O’dell, no hometown given, took off toward Weston. It was Weston police who had alerted Westport police to be on the look out for him after receiving a report he had taken a car from a home without permission, officers said. A pursuit at speeds of more than 70 miles per hour ensued with the suspect ending up on Logan Lane in Weston’s northern part near Devil’s Den off Godfrey Road. The chase route covered 6.4 miles from the Exit 42 commuter lot. Police said O’dell attempted to drive through the rear yard of 3 Logan Lane where he got stuck. He then exited the vehicle and led a responding officer, Richard Fallia, in a foot pursuit into the woods and swamp area behind the home. “The officer on scene being alone in the dark wooded swamp area then used his Taser to gain compliance and take Richard O’dell into custody,” Hayes said. Following department policy, use of the stun gun will be thoroughly reviewed by senior officers to make sure guidelines were followed, police said. O’dell was charged with interfering with an officer, assault on a police officer, engaging in pursuit, and disobeying a signal of officer, police said. He is being held on a $250,000 bond. He was also charged with several other offenses by Weston police and is also being held for a parole violation, police said. Police did not say what crime he committed for which he is on parole. A Weston ambulance transported O’dell to Norwalk Hospital for examination as is required under Westport police protocol when a Taser is used, police officials said. He was found to be uninjured and then taken to Westport police headquarters for booking.
From Me: The dude hit a cop with a car. My guess is that if there was not a taser the cop would have had to shoot the guy. I guess the 10 members of the 2008 RTM who voted against the taser would have preferred that. According to the 2008 article in Westport Now those people were: Cady, Keenan, Cunitz, Milwe, Seidman, Suggs, Levy, Bomes, Steinberg, McCarthy
