(Hartford, CT) - Sharmese L. Walcott, Hartford Judicial District State’s Attorney, announced today that on October 31, 2024, Pedro Acevedo, age 36, of New Britain, pleaded guilty to Assault in the First Degree with Serious Physical Injury, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-59(a)(1), Assault of Public Safety/EMT/Public Transit or Health Care Personnel, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-167c, and Evading Responsibility in Operation of Motor Vehicles, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-224(b)(1). The Honorable David P. Gold sentenced Acevedo to 15 years in prison for the assault charge and 10 years in prison for the assault of a police officer charge, to be served concurrently. Additionally, the defendant received a two-year prison sentence for evading responsibility, also to be served concurrently.
On September 20, 2021, Farmington Police Officer James O'Donnell responded to a complaint at a condominium complex on Talcott Forest Road of two people in a white Nissan Altima stealing catalytic converters. When Officer O’Donnell came upon the Altima - which was occupied at the time only by the driver – Officer O’Donnell activated his emergency lights and positioned his vehicle directly in front of the Altima, with the Altima’s front end facing the front door of the police cruiser. The driver backed up the Altima and then pulled it forward. When Officer O’Donnell exited the police cruiser, the defendant moved the Altima forward, striking and pinning Officer O’Donnell. The Altima continued forward, dragging Officer O’Donnell the length of the police cruiser. With police in pursuit, the driver of the Altima drove over roadway islands until abandoning the vehicle on a dead-end road. The plate on the Altima came back to a vehicle that was stolen out of Middletown on August 16, 2021. During a search of the vehicle, police found two saws, two used catalytic converters, six different license plates, a black bandana, a blue surgical mask and work gloves. Officers took DNA swabs and lifted fingerprints from the vehicle. Investigators found a palm print on the Altima that matched the defendant’s and the defendant’s DNA was included in swabs taken from the steering wheel of the Altima and on the blue surgical mask and black bandana. Using the Cellebrite platform, police were able to track the defendant’s movements before and after the incident.
Officer O’Donnell suffered a broken sacrum, multiple fractures of his pelvis, broken bones on his right foot, and deep contusions to his legs in the incident.
The case was prosecuted by Supervisor Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Diaz with the assistance of Inspector Joseph J. Buyak, with significant and unwavering support from the Farmington Police Department. State’s Attorney Walcott would like to a extend a sincere thank you to all who saw this case through to disposition.