A man suspected in an attempted burglary in New London early Thursday morning is in custody after escaping twice and assaulting a police officer, according to police.
William Carilli, 22, of Coventry, has been placed on psychiatric watch as well as suicide watch.
Police first encountered Carilli when they responded to an attempted burglary at 57 Montauk Avenue at 12:36 a.m. on Thursday, police said.
Police arrested Carilli, who was walking away from the scene, and took him to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital because he was injured in the attempted break-in, police said.
While he was waiting to be treated at the hospital, Carilli managed to get away from police and led officers on a chase through the south end of New London.
Waterford and State Police were called into help get him back into custody and a Waterford police officer spotted Carilli just before 4 a.m.
The officer chased Carilli and caught up with him, but Carilli grabbed a blunt object and hit the officer in the head several times, police said.
The officer had to go to the hospital to be treated and required staples in his head.
A Connecticut State Police K9 unit then chased Carilli and took him into custody in the back yard of a home on Ocean Avenue.
Carilli again fought police, so authorities used a Taser on him, police said.
Carilli was brought to the New London Police Station and originally held on $250,000. Bond was increased to $500,000.
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Carilli was charged with criminal attempt/second-degree burglary and third-degree criminal mischief.
He appeared in court this morning and remains in custody, unable to post $49,000 cash bail.
Judge Kevin McMahon said on Thursday that Carilli could spend 50 to 60 years in prison on these charges.
Carilli is due back in court on Oct. 1.
