Bond $1M for man suspected of Middletown ‘ambush’ attack on officers

MIDDLETOWN — UPDATE @ 8:57 a.m.

Bond has been set at $1 million for Jason Cooper, the man accused of ambushing a Middletown police officer, stealing his cruiser and then ramming another cruiser.

Cooper appeared in court on Wednesday morning.

INITIAL REPORT, 2:14 a.m.

A 49-year-old man who is accused of an ‘ambush’ style attack on Middletown police officers that resulted in the theft of one police cruiser and intentional ramming of another last week, is scheduled to appear in court this morning.

FIRST REPORT: Suspect scanning police scanner prior to stealing Middletown cruiser, ramming another

Jason Cooper allegedly stole a police cruiser and purposely rammed another police cruiser, which injured the officer and himself, as well as disabled and heavily damaged both cruisers.

Cooper is charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; aggravated vehicular assault, a third-degree felony; grand theft felony, of the fourth degree; aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor; assault on a police officer, a fourth-degree felony; obstructing official business, resisting arrest, driving under suspension and criminal tools in the Feb. 28 incident.

RELATED: Middletown 'ambush' attack on officers comes at steep cost: 2 totaled cruisers, new anti-theft devices

Officers responded to a disturbance call made by a female complainant at 12:54 a.m., in which she stated Cooper was “extremely drunk”, slamming doors, yelling and cursing.

Cooper allegedly came out from behind the bushes and displayed a knife to the officer, Patrick Glassburn. Cooper was listening to the police scanner on his cell phone and intended to “ambush” the officer, Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw said.

He was instructed to drop his knife, which he refused, and was tasered as a result, though it was ineffective, authorities said. Cooper than entered the police cruiser, which led to him slamming into another cruiser driven by Officer Ryan Morgan, who was responding to a separate disturbance call.

When he wrecked, the stolen cruiser flipped on its side and Cooper was apprehended.

He was taken to Atrium Medical Center and treated for a punctured lung and injured arm. Morgan was treated and released from Middletown Kettering Medical Center.

The incident has prompted Middletown police to install anti-theft devices in its fleet of vehicles, officials confirm.

Cooper is reportedly out of the hospital, back in jail, and will appear in front of a judge today.

We will update this story with any new information that emerges from today’s court appearance.