WATERBURY, Conn. — A Woodbury man faced a Waterbury judge late Friday afternoon, after police said he stabbed an officer during at traffic stop on Thursday.
“This defendant made comments on body cameras to the police several hours later, ‘Is he dead yet?’ and ‘I hope he dies.’ Those comments were recorded on body camera and certainly show the intent to kill this officer,” said Donald Therkildsen, Jr., Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney.
Thirty-one-year-old Tyler Wilmot has been charged with Interfering With an Officer/Resisting, Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, and Assault 1st Degree, Failure to Display Registration Plate, Illegible License Plate, and Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a License (subsequent offense).
RELATED: Man facing attempted murder charge after allegedly stabbing Woodbury officer during traffic stop
This comes as the resident trooper who is the alleged victim in this case, Ofc. Tim Wright, was expected to be released from the hospital Friday. At last check, Connecticut State Police reported they had no update on Wright’s release. On Thursday, troopers estimated that he’d make a full recovery.
In court, prosecutors said the doctors reported that the stab wound was one millimeter away from Wright’s carotid artery, which would have resulted in death.
“We were one millimeter away from this defendant being charged with murder with special circumstances and the tragedy of this officer being dead,” Therkildsen said in court.
In court, Therkildsen went through what he described as an apparent “obsession” Wilmot had with Wright, who arrested him at least twice in the past.
In those instances, Therkildsen alleges Wilmot made threats toward Wright and other officers, including allegations of wanting to burn his home.
“The defendant is an extreme threat to society. He is an extreme threat to this specific victim. He’s an extreme threat to police officers everywhere. This was not an accident. This was an attempted assassination. He targeted this officer. He wanted to kill this officer. And he came within one millimeter of killing this officer,” Therkildsen said in court.
Prosecutors said Wilmot has a pending matter out of California, where it’s alleged he was in an apparent road rage incident, arrested after assaulting someone with a tire iron. Attorneys said Wilmot was extradited on that matter to California back in May, where he posted bond and made it back to Connecticut.
Prosecutors said in court there were pending charges here in Connecticut that were nolled (nolle prosequi) on a promise from California that he’d be facing significant jail time. However, after this, the state said they will be re-opening those matters here at home.
The judge set Wilmot’s bond at $3 million. If posted, he would be on 24/7 lockdown at home. The judge also ordered a mental health evaluation for Wilmot. He’s expected back in court on Oct. 9.
----
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
----
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.