Motorcyclist Struck Victim With Helmet In Road Rage Incident: East Haven Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — A motorcyclist is accused of punching a victim multiple times and then striking him with a motorcycle helmet when he was on the ground after a road rage incident last week in East Haven, according to police.

Sigfredo Torres, 28, of North Branford, was arrested Thursday in connection with a serious injury assault investigation that stemmed from a road rage incident on April 14 on Foxon Road, according to police.

Police said officers responded on April 14 to the area of Foxon Road and Green Street on the report of an assault stemming from a road rage incident that began on Foxon Boulevard in New Haven.

Arriving officers found a man suffering from “severe facial and head injuries” lying next to his vehicle, according to police. He was treated at the scene by East Haven Fire Department medics and taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital for further treatment, police said.

“While officers remained on scene, dispatch received a 911 call reporting that the second individual involved in the altercation had fled the scene on a white motorcycle and was in the area of Rock Street,” police wrote in a news release. “Officers located the motorcyclist just over the East Haven town line in North Branford, but when they attempted to take the operator into custody, he fled at a high rate of speed westbound on Foxon Road toward New Haven.

“A witness who observed incident reported that both individuals had been involved in a road rage encounter prior to the assault and were driving erratically eastbound on Foxon Road. The witness stated that both parties ultimately stopped in the area of Foxon Road and Green Street, where a physical altercation occurred. During the altercation, the witness observed the motorcyclist punch the victim multiple times, then strike him with a motorcycle helmet after he had fallen to the ground.”

After sharing images of the motorcyclist with the media and on various social media platforms, police said tips came in identifying Torres as the motorcyclist.

Torres agreed to speak with investigators about the incident and “was cooperative throughout the rest of the investigation,” according to police.

Torres was arrested on charges of first-degree assault, interfering with an officer, engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving, and second-degree breach of peace. He was released after posting a $150,000 bond with a court date of May 6.