Man in Stolen Car Leads Guilford PD In Pursuit, Assaults 2: PD

GUILFORD, CT — A New Haven man is accused of driving a stolen vehicle, engaging police in pursuit, then fleeing on foot, and finally fighting with two Guilford police officers, police said in a news release. The accused was always wanted on several charges in New Haven and had an outstanding $2 million bond there, police said.

Police said Jose Hernandez, 47, was charged after the incident occurred at 2:40 a.m. Wednesday after Sgt. John O'Brien and Officer Jared Dillon found a car parked in the lot of Valley Motel on Route 80 that was determined to be stolen, police said.

Police saw a man in the stolen vehicle and as officers made attempts to apprehend the suspect in the parking area, but Hernandez was able to evade the officers by driving over a grass area and engaged one officer in a short pursuit, police said.

The pursuit was quickly ended and the male suspect fled on foot while Dillon and O'Brien gave chase, police said. The officers were able to subdue the suspect after a physical altercation and take him into custody, police said.

The man was found to have an active arrest warrant from a violence incident originating in New Haven with a $2 million bond, police said. New Haven Police told Guilford Police that Hernandez had engaged their officers in pursuit and eluded them multiple times over the past two months, police said.

Hernandez is charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer, interfering with a police officer, second-degree larceny, second-degree criminal trover, engaging police in pursuit, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was $50,000 for the Guilford incident.