Suffield Man Arrested After Pursuit By Police

SUFFIELD, CT — A local man was arrested Monday morning on domestic violence charges, but not before leading police on vehicle and foot pursuits.

Michael Wilkinson, 42, was charged with third-degree assault, two counts of risk of injury to a minor, interfering with an officer, third-degree criminal mischief, engaging police in pursuit and reckless driving.

Bond was set at $10,000, and he was slated to appear Tuesday in Enfield Superior Court.

At 7:09 a.m., Suffield police received a 9-1-1 call regarding an active domestic disturbance in which the victim reported being assaulted and the suspect had also damaged the victim’s vehicle. The suspect was reported to have fled the scene in a vehicle, Capt. Christopher McKee said.

While responding to the scene, an officer of the Suffield Police Department observed the involved suspect's vehicle and attempted to stop the suspect using the marked police cruiser’s emergency lights and audible siren. The suspect, later identified as Wilkinson, refused to pull over and instead engaged the police in pursuit for approximately a mile and a half, McKee said.

Wilkinson drove onto a long country road leading into 276 North Stone Street, where he then fled on foot into a wooded area. Police officers converged into the area, and Wilkinson was located and apprehended a short time later without any further incident, McKee said.

The victim was evaluated for minor injuries and did not require further medical treatment, McKee said.

Due to the presence of children at the time of the assault, the Connecticut Department of Children and Family was notified and will be collaborating with the Suffield Police Department on an investigation, McKee said.

Photo courtesy of Suffield Police Department