The man accused of running over a Shelton police officer who later died from his injuries made a brief court appearance Tuesday.
Bruce Knapik, 65, of Bridgeport, is charged with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle and driving under the influence in the July 2010 death of Sgt. Orville Smith.
Knapik’s case was continued until July 28, when a pre-trial status conference is scheduled to happen with the state’s attorney and Judge Burton Kaplan in the judge’s chambers.
Police said Knapick was driving drunk when he hit Smith as the officer directed traffic on Route 110.
Smith died three days after the accident.
Derby Wine Bottle Assault
Sean Rasmussen, the Ansonia man who is accused of beating his partner with a wine bottle, had his case moved to the Milford Judicial District, where more serious cases are heard.
Rasmussen, 41 of Ansonia, was charged June 8 with first-degree assault.
According to a police report Rasmussen hit the victim in the head with a wine bottle, fracturing the man’s skull, eye socket, jaw and cheek bone.
The broken bottle cut the victim’s arm, severing his artery in two places. He required emergency surgery to save his life, the report said.
Rasmussen called 911 and fled the scene, thinking he had killed the victim, according to the arrest report.
Police arrested Rasmussen in West Haven the following day.
Judge Kaplan reduced Rasmussen’s bail from $350,000 to $100,000 at the request of public defender Jonathan Gable.
He is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Milford on July 11.
