Police, Coast Guard capture suspect from Thames River

New London ― Federal and local law enforcement fished a 59-year-old wanted man out of the Thames River Thursday afternoon after they say he tried to avoid being captured by staying in the river for more than an hour.

Police said officers and emergency medical officials originally responded to a 1:11 p.m. call from a woman who said she had been assaulted at Riverside Park. She provided police with a description of the man who had fled. Police later identified the man as Richard Kaczmarczyk, with no certain address.

Police said when Kaczmarczyk saw officers and police K-9 Zeke he fled towards the nearby train tracks causing Amtrak to temporarily cease operations. He then ran into the river and swam towards a construction barge just north of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge.

Around 2:45 p.m., multiple law enforcement boats could be seen circling barges moored in the river near Mohawk Northeast, a marine construction company.

Police said boats from the U.S. Coast Guard along with the Waterford, Groton Town and Groton City police departments, surrounded Kaczmarczyk, who refused to get out of the water and held onto a mooring line for more than an hour. He eventually surrendered and police came ashore with him in a Coast Guard boat about 3 p.m.

Smiling and barefoot, with graying hair, beard and a torn T-shirt, Kaczmarczyk was handcuffed and led to an awaiting ambulance. He was taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Police said Kaczmarczyk was charged in connection with Thursday’s assault as well with eight outstanding warrants.

He faces charges of third-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace, interfering with police, violation of probation, violation of a protective order, second-degree harassment, two counts of first-degree failure to appear in court and four counts of second-degree failure to appear in court. He was held on $150,000 in bonds.

The woman who police say was assaulted was also brought to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Police explained that Thursday’s assault was not a domestic violence incident as the protective order arrest was the result of one of arrest warrants.

Police ask boater for assistance

Daryll Russell of Vernon, was moving his newly purchased 20-foot Wellcraft fishing boat from Groton to the boat launch with his son and a friend Thursday afternoon, when he said he was approached by two New London police officers.

“I just got this boat. These guys asked me to go capture a suspect,” Russell said. “Day one in the boat. Okay. Let’s go do this.”

Russell, who said his heart was pounding, brought the officers out to the man, who he said refused to grab onto a life preserver thrown by the Coast Guard. The New London officers eventually boarded the Coast Guard boat.

“He wouldn’t get out of the water,” Russell said as the man was still in the water. "He's going to die out there. He's going to get tired and someone is going to have to go in after him.“

The area where the Kaczmarczyk was in the water is close to what appeared to be a waterside homeless encampment.

g.smith@theday.com