Vin Gallo
Journal Inquirer
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — A police officer who was stabbed in the leg during a confrontation with an intoxicated man on Saturday has been released from the hospital, while the man faces multiple charges, police said.
The man, Charles Zuhauskas, 62, of 7 Edgewood St., was charged with second-degree assault, six counts of interfering with a police officer, criminal attempt to commit second-degree assault, two counts of second-degree threatening, four counts of assault on a police officer, and cruelty toward a police K9 unit.
Lt. Joshua Litwin said that police responded to a resident’s complaint shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday of an unruly and possibly intoxicated man outside 7 Edgewood St.
Litwin said six officers assisted in subduing Zuhauskas, as well as a police dog. Zuhauskas struck the dog with a metal object, but the dog appeared to be unharmed and carried out his duty, Litwin said.
In addition to stabbing one officer in the leg, Litwin said, Zuhauskas tried to stab a second officer. The knife slashed that officer’s uniform but did not puncture the skin, Litwin said.
Zuhauskas also threatened to shoot two of the responding officers, but no firearm was seen on him, Litwin said.
Fire department paramedics treated both Zuhauskas and the police officer at the scene and both were transported to area hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening, Litwin said.
Zuhauskas was released from the hospital after being treated for a dog bite and injuries sustained in the scuffle. He was held in police custody over the weekend in lieu of $100,000 bond and was to be arraigned today.