Thug Winston Tate who brutally beat female cop with a hammer has a staggering THIRTY prior arrests

April 2024 · 5 minute read

A thug who launched a brutal hammer attack on a female cop had been arrested 30 times before and 'should never have been out on the streets' according to a furious police chief. 

Former army private Winston Tate, 52, wielded a claw hammer while charging at Connecticut Detective Karli Travis before beating her with the weapon in a Middletown street on August 12. 

His horrific attack was caught on officer bodycam footage, which also shows her screaming and pleading with him to stop while falling to the ground as he continued to strike. 

Tate was out on probation at the time after previously being jailed for assaulting at least two other officers amid a lengthy catalog of other crimes - including 14 previous convictions within the past six months.  

Local Middletown Police Union President Nick Puorro said Tate was known to authorities and should not have been on the streets at the time of his latest attack. 

Winston Tate, 52 (pictured), who launched a brutal hammer attack on a female cop had been arrested 30 times before and 'should never have been out on the streets' according to a furious police chief Nick Puorro

Winston Tate, 52 (pictured), who launched a brutal hammer attack on a female cop had been arrested 30 times before and 'should never have been out on the streets' according to a furious police chief Nick Puorro 

Winston Tate appearing in court earlier this month Detective Karli Travis has been hailed a 'hero'

Bodycam video shows the moment Tate (left) charged from his house and used a claw hammer to repeatedly batter Connecticut Detective Karli Travis (right) on a Middletown street before she drew her gun and shot him 

'A guy like this, who has 30 prior arrests, (who) has attacked officers, he should never have been out again,' Puorro told Fox News Digital. 

'He has proven that he is not a functioning member of society, and he deserves to be locked up in a cage like the animal he is.'

Puorro added that the attack is 'tangible proof of the problem there is' that 'shouldn't take a female officer almost being murdered on national TV to fix.' 

Officers had been sent to Tate's home four times in July for what Puorro called a pattern of 'terrorizing his neighbors' and tenant – smashing glass, yelling on his porch and shouting racial epithets. 

The August 12 attack on Travis, 52, came while she was responding to a report of noise and breaking glass on a street in Middletown, southern Connecticut. 

Her bodycam footage shows Tate emerging from his home and walking towards her with a hammer, as she calmly asks him to drop it.  

But Tate instead breaks into a run and hits her four times before she is able to take out her gun and shoot him in self defense.

Tate is a veteran who served between 1989 and 1992 including a tour in southwest Asia in 1991, according to Fox, and the court previously heard he was honorably discharged with a 'medication diagnosis' after serving in the Gulf War.

But Puorro said that while veterans' medical conditions could be 'used appropriately sometimes' to go some way to justifying their crimes, it was not an 'excuse' for Tate, who attained the rank of private first class before he was discharged.

Local Middletown Police Union President Nick Puorro (pictured) said Tate was known to authorities and should not have been on the streets at the time of his latest attack

Local Middletown Police Union President Nick Puorro (pictured) said Tate was known to authorities and should not have been on the streets at the time of his latest attack

The August 12 attack on Travis, 52 (left), came while she was responding to a report of noise and breaking glass on a street in Middletown, southern Connecticut

The August 12 attack on Travis, 52 (left), came while she was responding to a report of noise and breaking glass on a street in Middletown, southern Connecticut

Travis was hailed as a hero by her colleagues, who said she is lucky to have survived the attack. (Pictured: Travis with a dog)

Travis was hailed as a hero by her colleagues, who said she is lucky to have survived the attack. (Pictured: Travis with a dog)

'This animal was a murderer intent on murdering and should be treated as a criminal,' he said. 

Police had been called to Tate's house five times in the last month after reports of disturbances.

The 52-year-old has convictions dating back to 1995 and was jailed for previous attacks on police officers in 2017 and 2020 wfsb.com reported.

Police had been called to Tate's house five times in the last month after reports of disturbances.

But Detective Travis appeared to be on her own as she responded to the call on Saturday evening.

She immediately radioed for back-up as Tate charged towards her with the steel hammer, asking him 'can you put that down please?'

Chief Eric McCallister said Travis attempted to distance herself from her attacker but was 'fighting for her life' as she was bundled to the ground before drawing her gun and firing several shots.

Tate fled back inside his home before more officers arrived, surrounding the house and arresting him.

Both Tate and his victim were taken to hospital where they were treated for minor injuries.

Travis was hailed as a 'hero' by colleagues who said it was a miracle she survived the attack with only minor injuries.  

Tate appeared in court earlier this month charged with criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault, second-degree assault, assault on public safety personnel, and interfering with police.

Puorro (left) said Tate's latest attack is 'tangible proof of the problem there is' that 'shouldn't take a female officer almost being murdered on national TV to fix'

Puorro (left) said Tate's latest attack is 'tangible proof of the problem there is' that 'shouldn't take a female officer almost being murdered on national TV to fix'

Tate charged from his house as the officer approached The hammer is clearly visible as he bears down on his target

Footage from the officer's bodycam shows Tate charging from his house and bearing down on his target with the hammer clearly visible before slashing at his target

Tate was restrained after attempting to remove his jail uniform while handcuffed in court on Tuesday

Tate was restrained after attempting to remove his jail uniform while handcuffed in court on Tuesday

He had to be restrained by officers in the dock as he tried to remove his prison jumpsuit while the judge was ordering him to be held on a $500,000 bond.

'He's dangerous. There's nobody that's safe from this man,' the state's attorney said.

A spokesman for Middletown's police union said that Tate could easily have killed his victim.

'It is our hope that this time finally after attempting to murder a police officer, he will suffer the consequences that he so rightfully deserves,' he added.

Tate is due back in court on October 3.

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