Police have charged the man who was driving a car that slammed into a house in New Haven.
Quintel Penn, 34, was found hiding in a closet in an apartment at 25 Ward Street Wednesday. He attempted to cover himself with debris in the closet to hide from officers, according to police.
Penn led officers on a car chase in the early morning hours of Jan 31, police said. He sped through several neighborhoods in Hamden and into New Haven, and nearly hit a police officer who had deployed stop sticks to try and slow Penn down, according to authorities.
The chase ended when the car Penn was driving went through the wall of a home at 91 Winchester Avenue in New Haven and landed on a man sleeping in bed. The man was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, but survived the crash.
Penn fled on foot, police said. The car he was driving belonged to his girlfriend. Penn had a protective order to stay away from his girlfriend at the time of the crash, police said.
He is charged with criminal attempt at assault of an officer, interfering with an officer, reckless driving, engaging an officer in pursuit, criminal violation of a protective order and first-degree criminal trespass.
Penn was held on $1 million bond.
