Storm Update, Part 3: Police Say Man Blows Through Roadblock

The weather was not the only thing making things difficult for police and fire crews on Thursday night.

Police said a resident of the Woodmere Place condominium complex, angry that Talcottville Road was closed because of a downed tree and power lines, blew through a roadblock and almost injured a police officer and fire police officer in the process.

At 5:48 p.m. on Thursday, police had a section of Talcottville Road - state Route 83 - closed after a strong thunderstorm left a patch of destruction near the intersection of Loveland Hill Road. A tree was down, a branch from it had fallen onto a car and wires were in the road. The line were believed to be live at the time, police said.

With a police officer and a fire police officer in the road turning cars around, Michael Drieu, 38, a resident of Unit 83 at Woodmere Place, asked if he could go to his home, police said. He was told it was unsafe to pass, police said, and Drieu left the scene.

He returned a short while later and asked to pass and was again told it was unsafe, police said.

Police said the then accelerated his vehicle, spinning the tires, and sped past the two officers in the road as the police officer was s till leaning over his vehicle.

He was eventually located and arrested, police said.

Drieu was charged with reckless driving, disobeying an officer's signal, unsafe movement and first-degree reckless endangerment, police said.

He was released on an $7,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 21.