PD: Man jumped from moving car during chase

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A New Haven man was arrested after allegedly jumping out of a moving vehicle and trying to ditch a couple dozen bags of crack cocaine during a police pursuit.

Just before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, police spotted a Toyota with an obscured plate driving on Spring St. There were two individuals inside the vehicle.

Police said they signaled for the car to pull over, but it sped off.

Police followed the car to Button and Putnam streets, where it slowed down. The passenger of the vehicle then bailed out of the moving car, recovered from his tumble and took off running into the Hill Central housing complex, police said.

Officers ran after the suspect.

According to police, the suspect then ducked behind a dumpster, discarded 31 bags of crack cocaine, threw down a brown-handled knife and tried to disguise himself by removing some clothing before trying to flee again.

The suspect, 18-year-old Marcos Martinez-Rivera, of Diego Court, New Haven, surrendered to police in the Roberto Clemente School parking lot.

The car Rivera bailed out of was located a short time later. Police said it crashed into a fence after jumping the curb at Truman St. and Clover Pl.

The driver of the car was spotted fleeing the scene by witnesses. He has not yet been identified.

The vehicle was seized as evidence.

Martinez-Rivera was arrested and charged with four narcotics crimes, third-degree trespassing and interfering with police.