Meriden Man Leads Police In Pursuit, Tosses 1 Kilo Of Cocaine On The Highway: Milford Police

MILFORD, CT — A man who led police in pursuit is being held in lieu of a $250,000 bond, police said. On Saturday, Milford police attempted to stop a vehicle on Interstate 95 northbound for several motor vehicle violations, police said.

The driver, Joel Cruz, 34, of Willow Street in Meriden, failed to pull over and accelerated away, police said. Cruz threw objects out of the window while driving north on Interstate 95 and continued to flee, but was apprehended on State Street in New Haven with about $20,000 inside the vehicle, police said.

Officers' from Milford and State Police with the assistant of Milford's trained narcotics detection K-9, Cedar, searched I-95 on foot for the contents of the objects that were thrown from the vehicle, police said. One kilo of cocaine was found on the shoulder of the highway near Exit 44.

Cruz is charged with possession of narcotics, destruction of evidence, illegal sale of narcotics, reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, and improper lane change.