NORTH HAVEN — A New York man faces multiple charges after fleeing the scene of a car accident and being tracked down by a police K-9 unit Friday afternoon.
North Haven police responded to a motor vehicle accident with reported injuries near 370 State Street at approximately 2:30 p.m. Friday.
Officers discovered that one driver had fled on foot into a wooded area behind a gas station and car wash.
Police established a perimeter and deployed Officer Dahlstrom and K-9 Cyrus to search for the suspect.
After an extensive search, authorities located the suspect hiding under a pile of fallen trees and limbs in woods near the 1000 block of Hartford Turnpike.
Police said the suspect, identified as 43-year-old Elixavier Gonzalez of New York, surrendered after K-9 Cyrus approached.
During a search of Gonzalez’s suspected path of travel, officers discovered a bag containing approximately 48 grams of suspected cocaine divided into multiple smaller bags.
Gonzalez was charged with evading responsibility with injury, interfering with police, possession of narcotics, and possession with intent to sell.
According to police, Gonzalez is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history in New York for drug possession, drug sales, and weapons charges.
North Haven police initially set Gonzalez’s bond at $350,000, but a Connecticut bail commissioner later reduced it to $175,000.
Gonzalez remains in custody at the North Haven Police Department and is scheduled for arraignment Monday morning.
