Meriden police have found the man they said fled the scene after a crash and prompted a manhunt on Tuesday, police tweeted.
“It was like a big ball of fire," Julie Podolsk of Meriden told NBC Connecticut.
Police said Mark Martin was with a female passenger when police pulled him over for having the wrong plate marker on his red Hyundai Elantra. When the officer approached the car, Martin drove away and struck a police cruiser in the downtown area of Meriden, according to police.
The officer was not hurt but was unable to restart his car so he called radioed others units to pursue the Elantra, Meriden police said.
Responding officers found that Martin was involved in a fiery crash with a silver BMW on Grove and Foster Street, police said.
Martin fled from the crash on foot, police said.
"He needs to pay the price," Podolski said.
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Meriden undercover detectives found Martin at his home at 4 Geer Ave. and he surrendered without incident.
Police charged Martin with two counts of evading responsibility, misuse of plates, operating under suspension, not having insurance, stop sign violation and disobeying the signal of an officer, Sgt. Darrin McKay told NBC Connecticut.
Martin also had two outstanding second-degree failure to appear warrants out of Bristol, police said.
His total bond for all of the warrants and Meriden's charges was set at $42,500.
He is scheduled to appear in court in Meriden Wednesday morning.
