Manslaughter Suspect Apprehended By Bridgeport Police

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A 38-year-old Bridgeport man, wanted in connection with a manslaughter case, was taken into custody Tuesday after authorities said he failed to appear for a recently scheduled court date.

The Bridgeport Police Task Force, which includes local, state and federal investigators, was notified Feb. 27 that Wilber Martinez did not appear for a Feb. 11 court hearing. Arrest warrants were subsequently issued.

He is the suspect in a wrong-way crash that killed two people in 2022.

Martinez had previously been released on a $500,000 bond following his August 2023 arrest on multiple charges, including two counts of manslaughter with a motor vehicle, six counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of risk of injury to a child, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, reckless driving, speeding over 70 mph, driving without a license and other motor vehicle-related offenses.

On March 3, investigators developed information that Martinez was believed to be inside a residence in the 100 block of Bronx Avenue.

Officers conducted an arrest operation at the location, and found Martinez inside the residence. He was taken into custody without incident.

He is charged with one count of failure to appear in the first degree and one count of failure to appear in the second degree. Court-set bonds on those charges total $2.1 million.