A Belchertown man is facing multiple charges, including assault with intent to murder, after he allegedly tried to run over a Springfield police officer and accelerated toward three cruisers on Monday night.
Miguel Martinez, 32, allegedly attempted to strike the officer and cruisers with his car as he led police on a chase in Springfield at around 9:30 p.m., Springfield police said in a post on the department’s Facebook page.
Police activated their emergency lights as officers observed Martinez allegedly running a second red light after passing several cars, police said. Police said they pursued Martinez beginning near the St. James Avenue and State Street intersection and ended the chase at the Annawon Street dead end.
Martinez allegedly refused to pull over and ran multiple red lights and stop signs throughout the chase, police said.
After turning onto Alden Street, Martinez allegedly drove toward a cruiser and slowed down “as if he was going to stop at Alden Street and Eastern Avenue,” police said, when police allege that he instead accelerated toward the cruiser. An officer “had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit,” police said in the post.
Martinez then “continued to ignore traffic laws as he drove through several residential neighborhoods,” according to police, and accelerated toward another cruiser on Rochelle Street, which required the officer to swerve out of the way of Martinez’s car.
Martinez allegedly sped toward a third cruiser on Wilbraham Road, which also swerved out of the way, after driving onto a sidewalk then back onto the street.
The chase ended at Annawon Street, when Martinez tried to make a U-turn at the dead end and swiped a police cruiser with his car, police said.
Police said Martinez then tried to run but returned to his car and locked the doors when police exited their cruiser and told him to show his hands.
Police said they then broke the window of the car, at which point Martinez opened the door. Officers allegedly found an open pint of Hennessy cognac and “small amount of marijuana” in the car.
Martinez is charged with assault with intent to murder; seven counts of assault with a dangerous weapon; reckless operation of a motor vehicle; resisting arrest; open container; refusal to submit; and operating a motor vehicle with a revoked license as a habitual traffic offender. He also was detained on eight outstanding warrants, police said.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.