Police: Alleged Drunk Driver Crashed Into Police Cruiser

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A Manassas-area man led police from two jurisdictions on a wild chase early Sunday on and around Centreville Road (Route 28) before his car collided with a police cruiser.

Police from Prince William County and the City of Manassas Park cornered the vehicle driven by Manuel Martinez, 34 (shown in photo), of 9109 Yorkshire Lane, in the parking lot of the Manassas Park Shopping Plaza, according to a Prince William police report. At this point, Martinez accelerated and crashed head-on into a Manassas Park police officer’s vehicle.

There were no injuries in the collision, and Martinez was pulled out of his car and arrested at the scene, Prince William police said. He is being held without bond in the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center in Manassas on a variety of charges, and his next court date is set for March 20.

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Martinez was charged by Prince William police with assault and battery on a law enforcement officer, felony eluding, driving under the influence of alcohol (third offense in 10 years), driving on a revoked license, resisting arrest and unreasonable refusal to cooperate with police, according to the police report.

He was charged by Manassas Park police with attempted malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer and destruction of property.

The incident began at 2:22 a.m. Sunday, when a Prince William police officer, on routine patrol in the area of Centreville Road near Browns Lane north of Manassas Park, attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic offense. The driver, determined by police to be Martinez, ignored the officer’s attempts and fled, the report said.

Martinez turned onto Leland Road and made several evasive maneuvers before getting back onto Centreville Road, police said. At one point, he pulled into the Maplewood Plaza at a high rate of speed, narrowly missing patrons as they were leaving a local establishment.

Martinez then drove back onto Centreville Road, almost striking a police cruiser. He hit the median, flattening two of his tires before continuing south into Manassas Park. The driver then pulled into the Manassas Park Shopping Plaza, nearly striking a Manassas Park police cruiser, and accelerated through the parking lot, police said.

Officers from both jurisdictions cornered Martinez, and he crashed into another Manassas Park police car. As a result of the collision, both vehicles became attached; Martinez made several attempts to detach his vehicle from the police cruiser and drive away. But officers were able to open his driver’s side door and attempted to remove him, which led to a struggle.

Following a brief fight, Martinez was removed from his car and detained. During the struggle, he allegedly spat blood on a Prince William officer, according to the report.

Officers determined that Martinez was under the influence of alcohol during the incident, the report said.

Image: Prince William County Police Department