Man Crashes Into Meriden Police Cruiser; Arrested On 5 Warrants

MERIDEN, CT — Police have arrested a man on gun charges and outstanding warrants after he crashed his car into a police cruiser and fled police. Police said they attempted to stop Alejandro Ortiz for a routine traffic stop at 731 W. Main St. Thursday.

According to police:

Ortiz attempted to elude police by driving around one of the vehicles and striking the front end of the police vehicle.

He then drove off the roadway and into a creek on the side of the road. After he crawled out of the vehicle, he was arrested without incident.

Police found a 9mm handgun along with two magazines and 14 rounds of ammunition in the vehicle. Ortiz had five active warrants for his arrests.

Ortiz was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. After he was medically cleared, he was being escorted from the hospital but broke free and ran from officers while still handcuffed.

After a brief foot chase, Ortiz was again taken into custody.

Ortiz was charged with the following: escape from custody, carrying a pistol without a permit, weapons inside a motor vehicle, interfering with an officer, first-degree failure to appear, second-degree failure to appear, and several traffic violations.

He was held on a combined bond of $790,000.

The other three warrants are held by the New Britain, Berlin, and the Bristol police departments.