Man Charged In Wild Chase After Backing Into Cruiser: Southington PD

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A 31-year-old Waterbury man is facing several charges after, once pulled over, he fled the scene of a traffic stop by backing his vehicle into a Southington police cruiser, ultimately crashing after a pursuit.

According to the Southington Police Department, the incident happened Thursday afternoon, with Miquel Narvaez, 31, of Waterbury being charged with: illegal use of tinted glass; evading responsibility; illegal operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license; reckless driving; third-degree hindering prosecution; illegal sale/purchase of a large-capacity gun magazine; illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle; carrying a pistol without a permit; alteration of firearm identity; two counts of illegal possion of narcotics; illegal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell; and second-degree reckless endangerment.

Narvaez is out on $150,000 bond, police said, and is slated to appear in New Britain Superior Court.

The wild incident started at 1:45 p.m. when Southington police officer Michael Lukanik stopped a gray Honda Accord for a motor vehicle violation in the 800 area of Queen Street.

Police said the Honda came to a stop and the suspect, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, "abruptly exited" the driver's side of the vehicle.

This is when Lukanik told the suspect to go back into the vehicle, police said in a release Friday afternoon.

"Once back in the vehicle, the male then purposely reversed his vehicle into Officer Lukanik’s patrol cruiser, causing non-disabling damage," the SPD wrote.

"The vehicle then left the area at a high rate of speed, disregarding the safety of others, crossing the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic and continuing in a reckless manner southbound on Queen Street, creating an immediate danger to the public."

Police said the Honda, with police in pursuit, attempted to flee onto Interstate 84 west, but struck a guardrail on the onramp after losing control, causing disabling damage to the car.

The suspect then exited the vehicle and ran from the scene into a wooded area carrying a small backpack, police said.

Additional SPD units arrived and set up a perimeter and, after a foot pursuit, Narvaez was taken into custody, according to police.

Police said the contact of the backpack in Narvaez's possession included a semi-automatic, 9 mm handgun with no serial number (a "ghost gun") and a loaded, large-capacity magazine.

In addition, Narvaez had 100 bags of pre-packaged heroine, a "small amount" of cocaine and a "large amount" of cash.