Man Charged for Icy February Pursuit in Vernon

VERNON, CT — A man who led Vernon police on a strange pursuit along icy roads in February has been charged on a court-ordered warrant.

Michael Ortiz, 28, who lives at 133 1/2 West Main St. in the Rockville section of Vernon, was picked up Saturday in Manchester and transferred to Vernon to face interfering, speeding and turning violation charges, a warrant indicates.

At 2:07 a.m. on Feb. 3, an officer on patrol was traveling south on West Street behind a Nissan Rogue, according to a warrant. The vehicle turned onto West Main and accelerated and wound up on the hills of Vernon Avenue and Brooklyn and Cedar Streets, the warrant says.

The roads were icy at the time, police said.

Ortiz parked at 9 Cedar St. and began running away, according to a warrant.

While chasing Ortiz, an officer kept asking him why hew was at first speeding and then running and Ortiz kept insisting he did not "do anything," according to a warrant. He eventually jumped over a 20-foot wall, fell on his face and escaped police after getting back up and continuing to run, according to a warrant.

Photo Credit: VPD