The man who was behind the wheel of a vehicle that Hamden and Yale police officers opened fire on in New Haven in April is accused of driving under the influence during a crash that injured a bicyclist in New Haven on Friday morning and was arrested after a chase, according to police.
New Haven Police said a bicyclist was struck at 12:19 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Whalley and Sherman avenue and police arrested 21-year-old Paul Witherspoon, of Hamden, after a chase.
He was initiallt held on a $75,000 bond and appeared in court Friday, where bond was set at $50,000.
He and his girlfriend, 22-year-old Stephanie Washington, were both in a car at the intersection of Dixwell Avenue and Argyle Street in New Haven early on the morning of Tuesday, April 16 when police officers from Yale and Hamden who were investigating reports of an attempted armed robbery in Hamden opened fire on it, according to state police. Washington was injured in the shooting. She and Witherspoon were unarmed at the time.
New Haven police said Washington, 22, of West Haven, was a passenger in the front seat Friday. She and the back-seat passenger were not injured, according to police.
The bicyclist who was injured walked away from the scene of the crash before emergency medical responders arrived and New Haven Police are urging that person to come forward and seek medical treatment.
Witherspoon has been charged with weapon in a motor vehicle, carrying a dangerous weapon, interfering with a police officer, driving under the influence, evading responsibility, engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving and additional motor vehicle violation.
Police said the charge of carrying a dangerous weapon was for a stun gun.
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Police are asking witnesses who have not spoken to police to call the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6316.
