A man who allegedly said he was armed with a knife and wanted to kill cops hit an officer with his car Wednesday night in Hartford and was then shot by the officer, according to police.
The incident drew a heavy police presence to Park and Hungerford streets in the capital city Wednesday night.
Police identified the driver as Christopher Reh, 28, of South Windsor, who was reported as missing from South Windsor earlier that evening, prompting state police to issue a Silver Alert.
Authorities said an emotionally disturbed person, later identified as Reh, told his family he had a knife and wanted to kill cops. South Windsor police contacted the Hartford Police Department about the incident and asked for help chasing the suspect.
"This person had left his home in South Windsor. He's been previously suicidal," Hartford Deputy Chief Brian Foley said. "He made threats against himself tonight. He left the home with a knife and also made verbal threats to his family that he was going to harm a police officer."
Police found the man on Park Street and tried to make contact with him, Foley said.
That's when Reh allegedly "rammed a police cruiser" with his vehicle and struck a Hartford police officer in the street, knocking the officer to the ground. Police said Reh also "hit a couple other cruisers" and "crashed into a building."
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The injured officer fired his gun at least four times, shooting Reh twice in the area of Park and Hungerford streets in Hartford, police said.
The call originally came in as an officer down, and every officer on duty flocked to the 500 block of Park Street. About 20 to 30 patrol officers, detectives and Major Crimes Shooting Task Force officers responded.
Reh is in stable condition at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, where he is being treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to police.
The injured officer was taken to Hartford Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. He underwent a CAT scan and is also in stable condition, police said.
Police are looking into whether the driver intended "suicide by cop," but Foley said, "We can't point a finger to that without confirming that through our individual investigation."
"Certainly when people come to this area, it does draw some conclusions," Foley said.
The identity of the police officer hasn't been released and it's unknown whether there will be any charges. The incident remains under investigation.
Foley said Park Street is "blanketed in video cameras," so police will "have video evidence from this situation."
Police said Park Street would remain closed at least from Broad Street to Wolcott Street.
