Man Charged After Fleeing From East Haven Police, Significant Amount of Heroin Found: Police

EAST HAVEN, CT - An East Haven police cruiser was almost struck by a suspect who was allegedly trying to flee the scene with a significant amount of heroin and other drugs in his vehicle, police said in a news release Tuesday.

On Monday, police say they saw a vehicle matching the description from a broadcast that had engaged officers in pursuit in the City of New Haven.

The vehicle, a grey Volkswagen GTI, was spotted in the parking lot of Stop and Go convenience store located at 526 Main Street at about 10:35 p.m.

Police said they had information that the accused was involved in narcotics sales.

East Haven Police officers entered the parking lot at which time a male, later identified as Jesus Valle, exited the store and lunged into the driver’s seat and attempted to flee, police said.

Officers advised Valle to stop which he refused, police said. Valle attempted to leave the parking lot, nearly striking an East Haven Police cruiser, police said.

As Valle tried to leave the parking lot, he drove over a curb and got the vehicle stuck on the curb, disabling it.

Valle began spinning the tires in an attempt to free the vehicle with “total disregard for the safety of customers, pedestrian traffic, and the officers,” Police Lt. David Emerman said in a statement.

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When officers prepared to break the window of the vehicle to remove Valle, he opened the door and was placed under arrest.

Upon searching the vehicle, officers located an allegedly large amount of drugs packaged for street sales including 94 bags of heroin weighing .717 ounces, 9 bags of crack cocaine weighing .108 ounces, and 2 bags of marijuana weighing .177 ounces.

Also seized were two cell phones, $144.00 cash, and the 2004 Volkswagen GTI.

The vehicle was determined to be unregistered, uninsured, and Valle was allegedly misusing a different marker plate that did not belong on the vehicle. Valle’s driver’s license was also suspended.

He was charged with numerous narcotics and drug offenses, second-degree reckless endangerment, and motor vehicle violations. He was held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.