An East Hartford man who was a fugitive from justice was arrested Thursday by West Hartford Police and is being held on $750,000 bond.

By Ronni Newton

A 42-year-old East Hartford man who was wanted on an extraditable warrant out of Massachusetts was spotted in West Hartford Thursday and after initially evading police and refusing to comply, was arrested by West Hartford Police and faces as slew of charges.

According to Capt. Daniel Moffo, members of the West Hartford Police Department’s Community Support Unit (CSU) spotted a vehicle on Thursday, March 14, at approximately 2:14 p.m. that was registered to an individual who had an active extraditable felony warrant from Massachusetts.

CSU members attempted to stop the vehicle in West Hartford before the car entered I-84 East, police said, but the operator of the vehicle refused to stop.

Police successfully deployed tire deflation devices, Moffo said, but despite three of the car’s four tires being flattened the driver continued to flee and entered I-84, eventually coming to a stop on the highway near the Sisson Avenue exit.

The driver did not comply with orders by police to exit the vehicle, Moffo said, and was forcibly removed without injury to any of the parties.

Police seized several types of narcotics as well as drug packaging and equipment from the vehicle, including powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin.

Michael Martin. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

The driver, who was the subject of the extraditable warrant, was identified as Michael Martin, 42, of East Hartford. He was arrested and charged as a fugitive from justice based on the felony warrant, which contained charges of 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.

Martin also faces charges from West Hartford Police in connection with his activity on Thursday, including possession with intent to sell narcotics (subsequent offense), possession of a controlled substance (subsequent offense), interfering with an officer, engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving, illegal tints, and failure to wear a seat belt.

He is currently being held on a total bond of $750,000 – $500,000 surety bond for the initial felony arrest warrant from Massachusetts and $250,000 cash or surety bond for the West Hartford charges – pending arraignment and extradition.

“WHPD would like to thank the Connecticut State Police for providing assistance on scene,” Moffo said in his email.

Police ask that anyone with information related to this investigation contact West Hartford Police at 860-523-5203 or via the anonymous tip line 860-570-8969 or email [email protected].

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