Man Caused Woman To Jump From Moving Car In North Branford: PD

NORTH BRANFORD, CT — A man is facing charges that he ripped a woman's clothing and caused her to jump out of his vehicle before fleeing from law enforcement, according to police.

Michael Daniels, 52, of New Haven, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, and engaging police in pursuit.

At 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, North Branford police responded to the incident that led to Daniels' arrests.

An officer stationed at Doody's Totoket Inn, located at 465 Foxon Road (Route 80) saw what he believed to be an altercation inside a moving vehicle.

The officer believed a woman was pushed or ejected out of the vehicle while it was still in motion.

The officer responded and attempted to stop the vehicle by activating his emergency lights and siren. However, the driver, later identified as Daniels, fled, according to police.

The pursuit continued from Foxon Road to Route 139, to School Ground Road, Leetes Island Road, and finally onto I-95 north, where Daniels complied by coming to a stop. He was taken into custody without further incident.

A law enforcement investigation found that Daniels and the victim initially met in New Haven and were both using crack cocaine, police said.

Daniels began driving recklessly, claiming that the victim was wearing a GPS monitor. In an attempt to locate the device, Daniels reportedly started tearing the victim's clothing.

Police said the victim, fearing for her safety, "made a desperate decision to jump out of the moving vehicle."

Daniels complained of chest pain following his arrest. Officers requested an ambulance to transport him to the hospital. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Daniels became unresponsive, and "quick-thinking officers administered medical attention."

He was then transported to Yale New Haven Hospital.

The victim refused medical attention, according to police.

"Incidents like this one remind us of the complex challenges law enforcement officers face every day," North Branford Police Chief Kevin Halloran said in a statement. "I commend the swift and decisive action of our officers in ensuring the safety of the victim and apprehending the suspect, Mr. Michael Daniels. Our department remains dedicated to upholding the safety and well-being of our community."

Daniels is due to appear in court in New Haven Nov. 14.