Police Say Man Commits Unprovoked Assault, Takes Wild Ride Through South Norwalk

After an unprovoked attack on an elderly man, a city resident went on a wild car ride through South Norwalk Monday morning before crashing into a police cruiser and having to be shot several times with Tasers to be brought under control, police said.

At a news briefing Tuesday morning, Sgt. James Walsh said the episode began on Novak Street shortly before 11 a.m., when Kevin Crosley, for no apparent reason, began assaulting a 71-year-old man he encountered on the sidewalk.

The victim picked up a rock to defend himself, Walsh said, which Crosley took from him and then used to strike him in the head.

As the man fell to the ground, Crosely jumped into the passenger seat of a passing Honda Acura. The woman driver continued to Oxford Street, where she jumped out.

Crosely took control of the car and, in the course of making a u-turn, struck a car behind him and a wall before taking off at high speed.

Crosely drove down Meadow Street, then turned onto Novak Street where Officer Russell Ouellette was waiting in his cruiser.

Upon seeing Outllette, Crosely struck another parked car, then turned into a driveway at 15 Novak St., where he crashed into a retaining wall and a house.

Ouellette drove his cruiser across the end of the driveway, and Crosely drove backwards, hitting the cruiser and Oullette.

Ouellette drew his pistol and ordered Crosely out of the car at gunpoint.

Crosely began fighting with Ouellette and several other officers, requiring them to fire Tasers at him three times.

At that point Crosely “became compliant” and was handcuffed, Walsh said.

Both Crosely and the man hit with the rock were taken to Norwalk Hospital. The victim was treated and released. Crosely was admitted.

Walsh said two officers will be assigned to watch Crosely at the hospital until he is released into police custody.

Crosely, who is 29 and lives at 14 Scribner Ave., was charged with second-degree assault, second-degree assault of an elderly person, assault of a police officer, interfering with a police officer, two counts of reckless driving resulting in an injury, two counts of evading responsibility and two counts of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked license.

Police set combined bonds for Crosely amounting to $254,000. He was given a court date of Aug. 4.

State judicial records show Crosely has numerous criminal convictions for possession and sale of drugs, inteferring with officers, breach of peace, reckless driving and engaging an officer in pursuit.

Walsh said patrol officers for the evening shift Tuesday had to be called in early because so many day shift officers were involved with this incident and several others that occurred around the same time.