Driver Rammed Other Vehicle In Domestic Violence Incident: Meriden PD

MERIDEN, CT — A man is accused of intentionally ramming another vehicle that had a driver who has two protective orders against him on Saturday in Meriden, according to police.

Police responded around 4:35 p.m. on Aug. 27 to a report of an SUV being chased by a yellow Mazda. Police were told that the Mazda was intentionally ramming the other vehicle and chased it into a gas station parking lot on Broad Street, according to a news release.

While in the gas station lot, the Mazda was reported to have been circling the SUV before striking it once again, according to police. Both vehicles reportedly left the gas station heading north on Broad Street, police said.

“A short time later a patrol officer located the vehicles and observed the yellow vehicle following the SUV extremely close in an aggressive manner and maneuvering the vehicle attempting to run the SUV off the road,” police wrote in the news release. “The officer attempted to stop the yellow Mazda which led to a very brief pursuit. This was quickly terminated due to the dangerously high speed of the yellow Mazda.”

Police received another call moments later that the Mazda was involved in a crash in the area of Broad Street and I-691.

Patrol units responded and found the Mazda and the driver, identified as 29-year-old Bryan Villanueva, according to police.

Villanueva was taken to New Britain General for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash, police said. The injuries weren’t life-threatening, according to police.

The investigation found that Villanueva had two protective orders against him involving the driver of the SUV and it was a domestic violence-related incident, police said. Villanueva was arrested after he was cleared from the hospital.

He was charged with two counts of violation of a protective order, evading responsibility, criminal attempt at second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, first-degree reckless endangerment, operating under suspension, following too closely with intent to harass or intimidate, reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, unsafe backing, passing in a no passing zone and failure to maintain lane.

Villanueva was held in lieu of a $150,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 29. Villanueva was also arrested last month on accusations that he assaulted his ex and punched a dog during a domestic violence incident in June, police said at the time. He was released after posting a $25,000 bond with a court date of Sept. 30 on charges related to the arrest, according to state judicial records.