MANCHESTER -- A Manchester man who police said was responsible for injuring three East Hartford police officers appeared in Manchester Superior Court Wednesday.
Kevin McNeilly, 52, was charged with engaging police in pursuit, interfering with police, possession of narcotics and tampering with evidence.
McNeilly has had 32 convictions since 1981 and was on probation at the time of his arrest Tuesday. He appeared in a wheelchair during the court hearing and made no comment.
East Hartford Police Deputy Chief Beau Thurnauer said officers came upon McNeilly during a drug transaction in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn on Pitkin Street at around 2:45 p.m. They approached the car McNeilly was in, and when he noticed them there he put it in reverse, and pinned two officers against another parked car. Then he drove out of the lot and hit a third officer with his car.
The officers fired three shots at the car but McNeilly was not hit. An East Hartford Traffic Unit officer chased the car before McNeilly pulled over voluntarily on Knollwood Drive.
None of the officers' injuries are considered life-threatening. Two of the officers were released within a few hours of the incident, but one was still being treated and will be released Wednesday.
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