A 58-year-old man is facing assault charges after reportedly using a fire poker and shovel to threaten the woman involved in a hit-and-run crash in New Haven on Saturday, according to police.
North Haven police were called in to help investigate the crash and search for the offending car, which officers found parked outside 90 Pool Road, according to police.
Officers knocked on the door and no one answered, but while they were outside the house Johnny Ortiz arrived home. Police said Oritz was “uncooperative” and told officers he didn’t know where the driver was. He declined to let them inside.
After Ortiz entered the house, officers heard a man yelling, followed by “three loud smacking sounds and a loud boom.” They forced their way inside, believing a fight was underway, police said.
There they saw Ortiz standing over the woman, holding over a fireplace poker and metal fireplace shovel, according to police. They demanded that Ortiz put the weapons down and took him into custody when he refused.
Ortiz was charged with third-degree assault, first-degree unlawful restraint and disorderly conduct. He was released after posting $15,000 bond and was arraigned Monday.
The woman, who has not been identified by name, was arrested and is facing charges out of New Haven in connection with the hit-and-run, according to North Haven police.
