Ax-wielding man leads police on foot pursuit that stretched to I-95

An ax-wielding man led police in Fairfield on a foot chase that stretched to Interstate 95 late Tuesday and ended in his arrest.

Officers responded to the report of a suspicious person to Hemlock Hardware, located at 1860 Post Road, shortly before 11 p.m. and found 35-year-old Orlando Roper of New York with an ax behind his vehicle at a nearby business, according to Sgt. Michael Stahl of the Fairfield Police Department.

Roper was acting erratically and told police they would need to use deadly force for him to be compliant, Stahl said in a statement.

According to Stahl, officers tried to engage with Roper peacefully and use de-escalation tactics, but he fled the area on foot while still brandishing the ax. Police chased him across a set of railroad tracks and I-95 before deploying “less-lethal measures,” Stahl said.

According to Stahl, Roper “persisted in his flight” until he was surrounded by police, at which point he dropped the ax.

He was arrested on charges of interfering with officers and second-degree breach of peace.

“We are reminded of the inherent dangers and uncertainties our officers confront daily,” Stahl said. “However, we are fortunate to have a team of dedicated professionals trained in employing less-lethal measures and de-escalation tactics. Their swift and skillful actions resulted in the successful resolution of a situation that could have tragically unfolded in a vastly different manner.

“We commend our officers for their unwavering commitment to preserving life and ensuring the safety of our community,” Stahl said, adding that Connecticut State Police and the Westport Police Department assisted in Roper’s apprehension.