A man accused of shooting a Willimantic police officer in the arm as he responded to a well-being call in June pleaded not guilty on Friday to assault, threatening and additional charges.
Andrew Samuolis, 34, was arrested on Tuesday, June 25 after police responded to 31 Tunxis Lane in Willimantic around 11:30 a.m. to conduct a well-being check on a resident.
Lt. Paul Vance, of Connecticut State Police, said they also found a man’s body inside the Tunxis Lane house and it appears to be homicide scene, Vance said.
When the officer responding to the Tunxis Lane house arrived, he was ambushed and shot by a man, identified as Samuolis, who ran from the scene, according to state police.
The officer called for help and local and state police, as well as SWAT officers, responded to Tunxis Lane and the area around the IGA on Route 32, where Samuolis was later found.
The officer was taken to Windham Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening.injuries.
Samuolis was believed to be wearing a bulletproof vest and ran through several residents' backyards, prompting evacuations, as police searched for him.
A wide-scale search of the ground and air was launched and a K9 unit found Samuolis near the IGA, took him into custody and brought him to Windham Hospital to be treated for minor K9 wounds.
Samuolis has been charged with criminal attempt of assault, criminal attempt of assault on a public safety officer, threatening, breach of peace and interfering with a police officer.
Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com