A Middletown, CT, police officer was attacked by a man wielding a claw hammer Saturday evening after responding to a complaint about noise and breaking glass on a residential street.
CT Detective Attacked by Hammer-Wielding Man
the detective attempted to distance herself from her attacker and continued telling the suspect to put the hammer down. She eventually takes out her duty gun and begins rapidly firing at the suspect.

A still from a body camera video shows Winston Tate charging toward Detective Karli Travis wielding a hammer and yelling at the officer.
The Connecticut Office of Inspector General
Detective Karli Travis, who runs the Middletown Police Cadet Program and serves in the patrol division, was the first officer who responded to the call. She approached the resident on foot and police said that she immediately noticed that the suspect, 52-year-old Winston Tate, was wielding a blunt object, Fox News reports.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Chief Eric McCallister said that Travis calmly asked Tate to drop the object, a metal hammer, to the ground.
He refused and Travis radioed for backup.
Body camera footage shows violence immediately ensue as Tate tackles the police officer and the pair begins thrashing around.
Chief McCallister said that the detective attempted to distance herself from her attacker and continued telling the suspect to put the hammer down. Travis eventually takes out her handgun and begins rapidly firing at Tate.
Backup officers arrived and Tate was arrested.
Detective Travis was taken to the hospital and released that evening with minor injuries.
Tate also had minor injuries.
More Patrol

Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →From the Show Floor: InVeris
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →
Dashcam Video Shows Officers Rescue Man from Burning Car
Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.
Read More →
Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT Named Red Dot of the Year
The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Axon
Join POLICE as we visit with Abi Stock, of Axon, to learn about the company’s latest technology offerings, such as Axon Assistant, Form One, and the DFR integration with Skydio.
Read More →
Back Face Deformation, Brain Injury and Ballistic Helmets – Why the “Dent Doesn’t Matter” Claim Ignores Science
Alex Poythress, co-founder and CEO of Ballistic Armor Co., explains why ballistic helmet buyers should insist on full test data, including BFD measurements, standoff distance, and padding configuration, rather than rely solely on penetration ratings.
Read More →
Streamlight Marks 15 Years of Support for Breast Cancer Research Foundation With $20k Donation
In its 15th year of supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Streamlight donated $20,000 to help in the fight against cancer. Donations were generated through the sale of special Wedge XT models and other pink flashlights.
Read More →
Police-Led Mental Health Charity Expands to Include Veterans
Talk To Me Post Tour (TTMPT), a non-profit organization that has been providing peer-support programs and professional psychological support for first responders, is now expanding services to military veterans.
Read More →
