Crime & Safety
Gas Station Clerk Injured Trying to Save David Hasselhoff Sign
The man is in critical condition at a local hospital.
Written by Aaron Leo and Paul Singley
A Shelton Cumberland Farms employee remains in critical condition after he was dragged from a truck driven by thieves who stole advertisement signs featuring the actor David Hasselhoff early Tuesday.
Police received a 911 call reporting a man with a head injury at Cumberland Farms, 819 River Road, at 1:15 a.m., said Lt. Robert Kozlowsky, Shelton police spokesman.
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The employee, a 36-year-old father whose name has not been released, was transported to Bridgeport Hospital, where he remains.
"The victim approached the vehicle in an attempt to get the signs back," Shelton Police Lt. Robert Kozlowsky said. "The vehicle then sped away and the victim was dragged. And then he spun around and flipped backwards, landing on his head. The vehicle headed on River Road toward Stratford."
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A 19-year-old man, allegedly the driver of the vehicle, has admitted his involvement in the incident, police said.
He is cooperating with police in the investigation; no arrests have been made at this point, police said. Detectives continue to investigate, and the man's name has not been released.The Hasselhoff signs have been a hot commodity for fans of the actor, who seemingly has a wide cult following. More than 500 been stolen from Cumberland Farms stores in several states in recent months, according to USA Today, which cites Associated Press sources. Hasselhoff is promoting iced coffee that the store, which has dubbed it "Iced Hoffee."
But since Tuesday's incident in Shelton, the sign mischief is no longer a joke.
Patch has received a recorded copy of the 911 call that followed the incident.
Another person then reported that the man appeared to have a broken arm and was unconscious and seizing; he was still breathing. Police said that the man was bleeding from a head wound when emergency crews arrived.
The male caller said he did not get the license plate of the truck but told police there were several occupants.
By Wednesday, the case had made national news. Hasselhoff himself has heard about the situation and expressed concern on his Twitter feed to his more than 500,000 followers.
"I am shocked & truly saddened about the Cumberland Farms store clerk tragedy. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
"Words cannot express how I feel at this moment. Please take a moment to say a prayer that he makes a full recovery. Thank you - David."
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