DANVERS - A Lynn man wanted on a New Jersey gun charge jumped from a third-floor motel window yesterday, dashed through nearby woods, then choked a woman while attempting to steal her car before local and state officers caught him, police said.
But that wasn't the end of Michael A. Rompa's attempted flight from justice.
Rompa, 30, kicked through a cruiser window and tried to escape with his hands cuffed behind him as he was being taken to the Danvers police station on Ash Street at about noon, police Sgt. Robert Bettencourt said.
"He's going crazy; he's trying to jump out the window," Patrolman Michael Bean yelled over his police radio when Rompa was halfway out the vehicle, Bettencourt said.
Bean pulled over on Sylvan Street and wrestled Rompa to the ground while two witnesses each sat on one of his legs.
Police said they first got a call about Rompa shortly before noon from management at the Extended Stay America motel. The motel asked police to remove Rompa and his female companion because they were possibly intoxicated and had "suspicious items" in their third-floor room, including a knife, hammer, camera and an electrical box. The unidentified woman was not charged in yesterday's incident.
But that wasn't the end of Michael A. Rompa's attempted flight from justice.
Rompa, 30, kicked through a cruiser window and tried to escape with his hands cuffed behind him as he was being taken to the Danvers police station on Ash Street at about noon, police Sgt. Robert Bettencourt said.
"He's going crazy; he's trying to jump out the window," Patrolman Michael Bean yelled over his police radio when Rompa was halfway out the vehicle, Bettencourt said.
Bean pulled over on Sylvan Street and wrestled Rompa to the ground while two witnesses each sat on one of his legs.
Police said they first got a call about Rompa shortly before noon from management at the Extended Stay America motel. The motel asked police to remove Rompa and his female companion because they were possibly intoxicated and had "suspicious items" in their third-floor room, including a knife, hammer, camera and an electrical box. The unidentified woman was not charged in yesterday's incident.
Police knocked on the door when they arrived. Patrolmen could hear a window being removed and had management open the door, Bettencourt said.
By then, Rompa had jumped three stories and took off running.
State police assisted, and they brought in their helicopter.
The helicopter soon zeroed in on Rompa on Pope's Lane - near the motel - where police said he was trying to steal a car.
"He assaulted a woman; he choked her and tried to steal her keys," Bettencourt said. "The police helicopter saw this, and the cops started to respond. He heard the officers coming so he took off running."
Police had Rompa in custody a short distance from Pope's Lane. He was placed in Bean's cruiser and attempted to make his escape a short time later.
In addition to the weapons charge in New Jersey, Rompa, of 21 Wove St., faces the following: assault with intent to rob; carjacking; resisting arrest; cocaine possession; two counts of malicious destruction of property (the police cruiser's window and the motel's window); disorderly conduct; and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He will be arraigned at Salem District Court today.
Management at the motel identified the white van that Rompa had arrived in. Detectives checked the van for prints and found some that matched Rompa's.
Rompa's female companion was transported to Beverly Hospital for a "medical condition." Police would not elaborate.
The woman whom police say Rompa carjacked was not injured, but she was in shock, Bettencourt said.
Along with Bean, assisting in the arrest were Danvers police Capts. Ed Plamowski and Patrick Ambrose; Sgts. Timothy Zuch and William Carleton; Patrolmen Craig Labastie, Jason Skane, Daniel Kenneally and Eric Clarizia; and Detectives James Lovell and Timothy Williamson. From the state police, Sgt. James Deyermond, Troopers Shawn O'Neil, David Rizos and Thomas Canning, and "numerous other unidentified troopers."
Staff writer Matthew K. Roy contributed to this report.
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