Man accused of assaulting officer with vehicle

MIDDLETOWN » Police arrested a man Tuesday after who allegedly assaulted an officer with a vehicle.

Gino Rizzo, 23, of Schaefer Road, Middletown, was charged with assaulting a police officer, operating a motor vehicle under suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of first-degree failure to appear, police said.

Police responded to Schaefer Road after a caller said Rizzo was staying there and had outstanding arrest warrants.

Dispatch checked and located two outstanding violation of probation warrants with a $50,000 bail each.

Officers located Rizzo in a parked vehicle, and he initially ignored police requests to exit the vehicle before allegedly telling them, “No.”

Police said Rizzo heard one of the officers go to the rear of the vehicle with a Taser and then allegedly started the car, police said.

Despite officers’ commands to turn off the car, Rizzo put the vehicle in reverse and allegedly intentionally struck one of the officers with the vehicle as well as the cruiser, police said.

The officer used his baton, attempting to break the window. Once the window broke, the other officer used his Taser on Rizzo.

The officer with the baton and Rizzo struggled before the officer was able to apprehend him.

Rizzo was held in lieu of $100,000 bail and issued a court date of June 7.