Optimism Surrounds Condition Of Stamford Cop Injured In Wild Car And Foot Chase

STAMFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- He said he didn't mean to hurt anyone.

The man being held in connection with the critical injury of police officer faced a judge, along with angry cops from the Stamford Police Department who attended his arraignment on Friday.

The attorney for Frank Douglas, a 30-year-old auto mechanic, told CBS 2's Lou Young his client was mistaken for a robbery suspect and is upset that a Stamford cop was critically injured during the chase.

"He had some [Department of] Motor Vehicles issues but just that, Motor Vehicle issues, but he wants people to know he's human and he empathizes with the police officer. He would never try to even hurt this officer at all," attorney Darnel Crosland said.

Officer Troy Strauser was hurt at the end of a long car chase Thursday morning and a subsequent pursuit on foot. He fell down a steep embankment on Interstate-95 at Exit 14.

Fellow officers rushed to the courthouse to get a look at the suspect, who was ordered held on a $500,000 bail.

"I'm listening to his life history of crime. I'm listening to drugs; I'm listening to weapons in his life.  I'm listening to 15 separate arrests," Stamford Police Sgt. Joe Kennedy said.

Strauser, 38, may never be same after what happened on the highway.

"After 18 hours of surgery almost consecutively he's doing as well as can be expected. We were asked today not to visit. We do have people standing by there but in terms of interaction with him, we really haven't spoken to him," Deputy Chief James Metheny said.

For the first time since the incident there is talk that Officer Strauser might someday come back to the job. With profound injuries to his face, arm and internal organs, though, there is no estimate as to how long that might take.

The chase began in Stamford and ended in Norwalk, police said, adding they believe the car was fleeing the scene of a violent mugging.

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