#Bridgeport, Conn. (September 11, Bridgeport Police Press Release) — On September 9, 2015 at 12:45 p.m. two Bridgeport Police officers were traveling west on East Washington Ave. near the intersection of Knowlton St. when they observed a man traveling east on East Washington Ave. on a bicycle. Torres is a possible suspect in shootings that have taken place recently in the area of Pembroke St. and Arctic St. After spotting him, officers began following Torres on E. Washington Ave.
Officers suspected that Torres could identify the vehicle as an unmarked police vehicle and Torres repeatedly looked back at the vehicle. Officers observed Torres wearing a pink and black Adidas backpack which appeared to have items inside. As officers approached Torres at the intersection of E Washington St. and Knowlton St., Torres was still watching the vehicle over his left shoulder. Officers were approximately five feet from Torres when they observed an object inside a pink and black Adidas backpack that he was shouldering, which looked consistent with the bottom portion of a firearm’s magazine well (i.e., the section of the firearm where the magazine is inserted into the firearm). At that time Torres quickly turned onto Knowlton St., still riding his bicycle, and looking directly at the police officers. Officers proceeded cautiously knowing that Torres could quickly present a possible firearm into the scenario. Torres began traveling south on Knowlton St. and quickly went around another vehicle that was stopped for a stop sign in an attempt to elude the police vehicle. Torres then threw the bicycle to the ground and began running south on Knowlton St. still with the backpack on his back. Both officers exited their vehicle and began to engage Torres in a foot pursuit. One officer yelled out to Torres, “stop or you’re getting tased,” but Torres did not listen to the request. The officer deployed the ECW (Taser) at Torres, but the ECW prongs never made contact with him and he continued to run with the backpack. Officers continued to engage Torres in a foot pursuit south on Knowlton St. yelling “police” as they chased him. Torres shed the backpack near 76 Knowlton St. and one officer stopped to recover the item while the other continued the pursuit. The backpack contained a semi-automatic firearm.
The officer in pursuit followed the quickly moving Torres east on Knowlton St. rounding the corner towards Williams St. There a concerned citizen operating a pickup truck and stated “Hey officer jump in I want to help.” The officer took advantage of this kind gesture and jumped on the rear bumper of the pickup truck holding on to the tailgate. The pickup truck and officer followed Torres north on Williams St. never losing sight of the suspect as they gained ground. Torres then ran into the property of 376 E. Washington Ave which is a high rise building with a gate around the entire premises. The pickup truck’s operator came to a complete stop and the officer jumped off to continue the foot pursuit. The officer chased Torres through the property of 376 E. Washington Ave. and then north on Harriet St. as numerous police vehicles approached the area. Awaiting officers apprehended and arrested Torres. While being taken into custody Torres yelled at police officers and spat towards them. Torres was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, interfering with an officer, resisting arrest, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal sale/distribution of a firearm, and tampering with physical evidence.
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