Man Faces Charges For Fleeing Traffic Stop In Hartford: Police

HARTFORD, CT — A New Britain man was charged Monday for an incident on a Hartford highway last May in which a motorist sped away from a trooper looking to stop him after a near collision.

According to a Connecticut State Police arrest report released Tuesday morning, Christopher Nuñez, 32, of Chestnut Street, New Britain, was charged in connection with the incident.

According to state police, he was charged with: illegal operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license; reckless driving; engaging police in pursuit; failure to drive in the proper lane; and improper turn/stop signaling.

His bond was $2,500 and he will appear in Hartford Superior Court Oct. 21.

According to state police, the incident happened May 5 at about 3:30 p.m. when a state trooper out of Troop H in Hartford was traveling east on the Whitehead Highway in Hartford.

Police said the officer's car was nearly struck by a vehicle that merged into the trooper's lane without using a signal.

The trooper followed the motorist, later identified as Nuñez, onto Interstate 91 in Hartford and activated lights and sirens to conduct a motor vehicle stop.

Police said the suspect then slowed to about 15 miles per hour, before rapidly accelerating away.
At this point, the trooper shut off his lights and siren and did not pursue the vehicle.

"Through investigative techniques, the trooper was able to determine the operator of the vehicle and an arrest warrant was issued," police said in a statement.

State police on Sunday, Oct. 3, picked up Nuñez at the New Britain Police Department, where he was in custody.

New Britain police had learned of an active warrant for Nuñez and held him for state police, which booked him at Troop H without incident.

To see the arrest report, click on this link.

To see the court affidavit, click on this link.