Video shows driver hitting East Haven police cruiser after fleeing traffic stop

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Newly released footage shows the moment a 39-year-old man struck a town police officer's cruiser, then engaged officers in a pursuit last week.

Robert Andrus of New Haven previously failed to stop for another officer at around 10 p.m. Oct. 2, according to East Haven police Capt. Joseph Murgo. Murgo said Andrus then was spotted in a parking lot and officers arrived to try to stop him, less than 30 minutes after the initial incident.

In the video, Andrus is seen driving recklessly in the Frontage Road parking lot to avoid officers. While trying to escape after an officer attempted to block Andrus, he struck the cruiser.

Officer Robert Celentano exits his cruiser after it was struck and yells for Andrus to exit his car, the video shows. Andrus is seen reversing the red Honda Civic and speeding off.

Celentano reports over his radio that the suspect hit him, and follows the Civic out of the parking lot and onto Interstate 95 north with his siren on.

Murgo said Andrus ended up being caught by state police and taken into custody. He said state police charged Andrus with interfering with an officer, reckless endangerment, engaging police in a pursuit, improper use of a marker plate, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle without a license, operating a motor vehicle under the influence and numerous other motor vehicle violations.

East Haven police have additional charges that will be filed through an arrest warrant, according to Murgo.

Murgo said Celentano was uninjured in the incident. He added that Andrus declined medical treatment, while a passenger in the Civic sustained minor injuries, was transported to the hospital and not charged.

Court records show Andrus was held in lieu of a $50,000 bond and was scheduled to appear at state Superior Court in New Haven Oct. 24.