Man Struck Girlfriend With Pickup Truck: Hamden Police

HAMDEN, CT — A Hamden man is accused of striking his girlfriend with his vehicle following a verbal dispute that turned physical on Sunday afternoon, according to police. The man is also accused of slapping the victim’s 11-year-old son in the face and pushing a 12-year-old during the incident. At about 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 6, Hamden Police responded to a Costanzo Court residence on the report of an assault with a motor vehicle, according to Capt. Ronald Smith.

Smith said investigation revealed that a 51-year-old Hamden resident and her boyfriend, Michael Cancel, were involved in a verbal dispute. Cancel is then accused of pushing her, before slapping her 11-year-old son in the face and also pushing her son’s 12-year-old friend, according to Smith. (To sign up for Hamden breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

“Moments later, Cancel entered his motor vehicle, a Dodge Ram, and drove across the lawn at a high rate of speed,” Smith said in a press release. “Cancel subsequently struck his girlfriend with the vehicle, driving over her leg. Hamden Fire Rescue responded and rendered medical assistance. The victim was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital for medical treatment.

“Shortly thereafter, Cancel was involved in a motor vehicle accident in West Haven. West Haven Police turned him over to the custody of the Hamden Police Department.”

Cancel, 49, of Costanzo Court, was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and two counts of risk of injury to a minor. He was detained at police headquarters on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Monday.

Pictured: Michael Cancel, 49, of Hamden/ via the Hamden Police Department