Moment unruly crowd sets off fireworks, attacks cops during Connecticut street takeover

Shocking videos show the moment an unruly group of young adults shot fireworks at a police cruiser and started attacking cops as dangerous street takeovers plagued at least four Connecticut cities over the weekend.

Footage released from one of the takeovers in Milford on Saturday showed dozens of attendees lobbing fireworks at cops and bystanders as the sparks flared out in all directions.

It also showed an officer trying to disperse a crowd, when one young man pushed a shopping cart at him and threw M-80s in the street.

At one point, some people even started to jump on the hood of a police vehicle.

Police said one officer on the scene was even hit, punched, and injured by an unidentified object thrown at his head.

The unidentified cop was hospitalized with minor injuries, but has since been released, Fox 61 reports.

Just before the incident, the same group of people — which included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont residents — held another takeover in Derby.

Footage from that event showed fireworks raining down on cops and civilians, and exploding in a smoke-filled haze as civilians were stuck waiting in their cars to get away.

“They had no respect for, certainly not law enforcement, but they had no respect for civilians either,”  Lt. Justin Stanko with the Derby Police Department told Fox 61.

He added that after the group was done in Milford, it moved into West Haven, where four adults and two juveniles were put in handcuffs after once again throwing fireworks at police officers and refusing to comply with orders to disperse.

Police now believe the unruly mob started their rampage in Shelton, where local police said they learned a takeover was being planned in advance and coordinated a multi-agency response, which included the FBI and Connecticut State Police.

“We started here and set the plan out, so we were ready when they got here and moved with them,” Police Chief Shawn Sequeira told WNTH.

“Once they’re gathered, that’s a whole different situation.”

When officers arrived on the scene in Shelton, they said they were confronted by more than 500 cars. They ticketed several drivers and towed some cars.

But the group dispersed as cops started cracking down, and moved on to other locations in North Haven, Orange, and Derby, before returning to Shelton.

In North Haven, police said holiday shoppers were stuck in parking lots with no way out as the takeover spread at around 8 p.m. Friday night.

“Interstate 91 was also backed up in both directions for over a mile,” North Haven police said in a Facebook post, adding that they had difficulty responding to calls for service — including a medical emergency and an assault — at the time.

“Any attempts at street takeovers or large-scale events blocking the roadways, denying our citizens access to public safety, will not be tolerated,” the police department vowed. 

“We will continue to investigate this and hold all parties involved accountable.”

Officers in West Haven also said they expect to arrest more people in connection with the takeover as they comb through videos taken at the scene, and in Milford, police are asking for assistance in identifying those involved in the assault on the police officer.

Meanwhile, Shelton police say they are working to prevent any future takeovers by checking social media, reviewing tips, and staying in contact with local and federal police agencies.