Middletown police ‘ambush’ crash: Suspect still in hospital under police guard

Cooper remains at Atrium Medical Center under police guard, said Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw.

Once Cooper is released from the hospital, he will be taken into police custody, charged and have his arraignment rescheduled, the chief said.

Cooper was arrested Thursday morning after police responded to the 100 block of Bavarian Drive on a report a man was “extremely drunk.”

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After an officer arrived, Cooper came out of some bushes with a knife, refused to drop it and was tased, police said. Cooper then got into the cruiser of the responding officer and drove it into the vehicle of a second responding officer, according to police. Muterspaw said Cooper ambushed the responding officer, listening to a police scanner on his cell phone and waiting.

Cooper was charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; aggravated vehicular assault, a third-degree felony; grand theft felony, of the fourth degree; aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor; assault on a police officer, a fourth-degree felony; obstructing official business, resisting arrest, driving under suspension and criminal tools.