Police received reports that a man was near the Interstate 95 off-ramp on Connecticut Avenue throwing items at cars at about 2:15 p.m. Thursday. A nearby off-duty officer went to the scene and saw Richard Zwart, 54, of Waterbury throw a bicycle and a bag into the street, and then walk into traffic to pick up the items, police said.
Zwart was also shouting racial slurs at an elderly black woman waiting for a bus nearby, according to police reports. The off-duty officer told the man to stop, and Zwart approached the officer and grabbed him by the shirt, police said.
The suspect showed signs of intoxication when backup officers arrived, according to police reports. After he was arrested, Zwart refused to get into a patrol car, and when forced inside he began kicking the car’s door from inside, police said.
Zwart was charged with criminal mischief, intimidation based on bigotry and interfering with an officer. He was held on $5,000 bond, and is due in court Sept. 9.
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