MONTVILLE, Conn. (WLNE) — Connecticut State Police said troopers arrested a Rhode Island man accused of causing a police pursuit on the highway and hitting multiple police cruisers. 36-year-old Nicholas Thompson, of Burrillville, R.I., was charged with reckless driving, disobeying signal of an officer, passing on the right, failure to maintain proper lane – limited access highway, criminal mischief 1st degree, interfering with an officer/resisting, criminal attempt – assault on public safety personnel, and reckless endangerment 1st degree. On March 31, around 8:38 a.m., police received reports of an erratic operation of a white Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driving in the breakdown lane on Interstate 395 southbound in Griswold. The pickup truck had also been reported to have been in a collision, and drove off. According to CSP, the trooper found the vehicle and saw it pass traffic in the right lane. They then attempted to pull the driver over, and the vehicle allegedly kept driving. For safety, the trooper ended the attempted traffic stop and notified police. Troopers were then able to box in the pickup in the right lane and attempted to get the driver out of the vehicle, which is when Thompson allegedly collided with the police cruiser and continued on the highway, causing a police pursuit. The East Lyme Police Department was called in to assist and closed the Exit 71 and 72 on-ramps with stop sticks. CSP said officers then attempted to box in the vehicle, and Thompson allegedly drove around the cruisers using the narrow center median. A trooper then blocked the pickup against the Jersey barrier in the median, and Thompson allegedly forced through and hit the police cruiser. The trooper then used the bumper to make contact with the pickup, and pinned the vehicle in, according to CSP. After a final attempt to drive away, the driver was stuck and got of the vehicle. CSP said the driver was tased after resisting arrest, and was identified as Thompson. Thompson was taken to the hospital for evaluation and taken into custody. The defendant was held on $250,000 bond and scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. Categories: News, Rhode Island ...read more read less