East Hartford Fugitive Caught In WeHa After Dramatic Chase: WHPD

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local police Thursday afternoon dramatically apprehended an East Hartford fugitive wanted on felony drug charges out of Massachusetts.

In capturing Michael Martin, 42, the West Hartford Police Department had to utilize stop sticks to render his fleeing vehicle immobile on Interstate 84.

In a detailed statement Friday afternoon, the WHPD said Martin was charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell; possession of a controlled substance; interfering with a police officer; engaging police in pursuit; reckless driving; illegal tinting of windows; and failure to wear a seat belt.

Those charges are on top of the charges Martin was wanted for in the State of Massachusetts and he will be extradited there.

In Massachusetts, Martin was charged with assault and battery on a police officer; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; assault with a dangerous weapon; failure to stop for police; and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

For the Massachusetts charges, Martin was being held on a $500,000 bond while the West Hartford charges carried a $250,000 bond, the WHPD reported.

He will eventually be arraigned in Hartford Superior Court and extradited to Massachusetts, police said.

The WHPD said the department's Community Support Unit located a vehicle registered to Martin at about 2:14 p.m. Thursday in town.

Martin, police said, then fled onto Interstate 84 East and refused to stop for police, prompting officers to take out three of four tires utilizing tire deflation devices.

Police said the vehicle stopped on I-84 East near Sisson Avenue, with Martin refusing to exit the vehicle as told to do so.

As a result, he was "forcibly removed" from the vehicle, police said.

According to the WHPD, narcotics and drug packaging/equipment were taken from his vehicle, including powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Anyone with information related to this investigation can contact the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203, or use the WHPD Tip Line/email at 860-570-8969 / whpdtips@westhartfordct.gov.