Police arrested a 30-year-old Ansonia man Sunday afternoon after they said he assaulted a woman inside the Big Y on Main Street.
The man then allegedly kicked a police officer while being detained.
In a prepared statement, Ansonia Police Lt. Andrew Cota said the man, Anthony Tenn, was “screaming at the top of his lungs” while being detained by “numerous good Samaritans” in the foyer of the store about 5:45 p.m.
Witnesses told cops Tenn had just assaulted a 37-year-old woman who was shopping at the store “by grabbing her arms and neck, and shaking her violently.”
The woman, with whom Tenn was not acquainted, said he had also threatened her.
Cops took Tenn into custody, finding a pocket knife and two small bags of cocaine while searching him.
Cota said Tenn resisted being put into a police car, and kicked the vehicle’s doors.
While cops were restraining him inside the car, Cota’s statement said, Tenn “kicked one of the officers in the face.”
The officer was treated and released from Griffin Hospital.
Tenn was also taken to the hospital for an evaluation.
Cota said that prior to the incident inside the store, Tenn had tried to get into an occupied vehicle in the parking lot, but “the driver and his two children were able to drive away from Tenn prior to him being able to get inside of the vehicle.”
Police charged Tenn with assaulting a police officer, third-degree assault, possession of cocaine, interfering with an officer, second-degree threatening, and second-degree breach of peace.
Police said Tenn was held on $50,000 bond.
