A 63-year-old Plainville man is accused of purposefully smashing his car into several other vehicles and trying to run at least one off the road, then attempting to ram a police cruiser and pull a knife on troopers who confronted him.
Police arrested John Bielawski early Tuesday morning.
According to state police, Bielawski "intentionally struck other vehicles" in Montville with his silver Chevrolet Express, injuring another driver, and drove off just before 1 a.m. Tuesday.
About an hour later, state police received word that New London officers were chasing Bielawski. Troopers responded and watched Bielawski try to run another car off the road with his van, according to police.
State police tried to stop Bielawski, but he refused and led them on a chase, trying multiple times to hit the troopers' cruiser, police said.
Troopers then used stop sticks to deflate the van's tires "due to the extreme danger the operator of the van posed to the public," according to state police.
Police said Bielawski would not get out of the van and "actively resisted arrest" when troopers confronted him. He reached for a large knife, and state police used a K-9 to apprehend him.
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One trooper suffered minor injuries while taking Bielawski into custody, according to state police. Bielawski was treated at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.
He was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, engaging police in pursuit, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree breach of peace, evading responsibility, reckless driving, attempted assault on police and carrying weapons in a motor vehicle.
Bielawski's bond was set at $50,000. He's due in court Sept. 16.
It's not clear if he has an attorney.
