Man Accused Of Hitting Marshals At Manchester Courthouse Charged

MANCHESTER, CT — A Massachusetts man accused of hitting two judicial marshals with a car in front of Manchester Superior Court on Monday was formally charged in Connecticut on Wednesday. His Bond was set at $1.5 million, authorities said.

The crash took place at 11:33 a.m. Jose Lopez, 42, of Springfield, MA is now facing three assault charges — first-degree, second-degree and two counts of assault on a public safety officer, according to a warrant.

He has also been charged with driving while under suspension and evading responsibility, state police said.

According to a report, two judicial marshals were struck by Lopez' vehicle as he was fleeing the courthouse. One judicial marshal sustained serious, life-threatening injuries and the second judicial marshal sustained "injuries," according to a report. They are 56 and 61, according to a report, but the report did not specify which marshal was the more seriously hurt.

Both were treated at Hartford Hospital. The seriously injured marshal remained there in the intensive care unit on Wednesday, state police said.

According to a report, Lopez was informed inside the courthouse that he had an active arrest warrant for violation of probation. Lopez subsequently fled the courthouse area, entered his vehicle, and struck the two marshals while trying to get away from the area.

Numerous witnesses, both civilians and judicial employees, remained at the scene and spoke with responding troopers and detectives. The Central District Major Crime unit assumed control of the investigation and coordinated closely with Massachussets State Police, Springfield police and Wilbraham (MA) police, according to a report.

Early Tuesday morning, Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force detectives
located Lopez at a motel in Massachusetts and took him into custody as a fugitive from justice on the outstanding, extraditable violation of probation warrants.

Detectives questioned Lopez at the Hampden County District Attorney's Office, where he subsequently provided a written confession, according to a report.

Lopez was presented at Hampden County Court in Massachusetts, where he waived extradition on the violation of probation warrants and was scheduled to be arraigned at Hartford Superior Court. In the meantime, an arrest warrant was obtained by Connecticut authorities for the Manchester incident. On Wednesday, detectives arrested Lopez in the Hartford courthouse cell block.