New Haven Man Arrested After Assaulting an Officer: Police

New Haven police arrested a 34-year-old man Monday night after he passed through a speeding checkpoint on Forbes Avenue and then assaulted the officer who pursued him, authorities said.

Jose Antonio Mendez was arrested after leading police on a chase. Mendez sped off on Forbes Avenue when an officer tried to pull him over for driving 30 mph over the speed limit, police said.

Police chased Mendez to the 400 block of Quinnipiac Avenue, where Mendez got out of the car and charged at the officer, according to police.

Another officer arrived at the scene and police struggled to handcuff Mendez, who was kicking, hitting and spitting at them, police said. One officer reported that Mendez had injured his arm and knee, police said.

After handcuffing Mendez, police found him to be in possession of two bags of marijuana and over $2,500 in cash. His driver’s license had expired, police said.

Mendez was arrested and charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer, interfering with a police officer, engaging police in a pursuit, failure to obey an officer’s signal, traveling too fast, operating a motor vehicle without a license and possession of marijuana.

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