Police Dog Nabs Fleeing Suspect In Motel Hatchet Attack On Manchester-Vernon Line

MANCHESTER, CT — A Manchester police dog was able to corral a suspect after an incident with a hatchet Friday, authorities said.

The hatchet attack took place at 1:06 in the afternoon at the Travelodge at 51 Hartford Turnpike on the Vernon-Manchester line, police said. The incident took place on the Manchester side of the property, police said.

A woman had been attacked by a man in the parking lot of the hotel, who then fled the scene on foot, police said. The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment, according to an incident report.

Manchester officers, with the assistance of a Manchester police canine unit and the Vernon Police Department, searched the area and the suspect was located on the nearby Hockanum River Trail by police dog Dakota and taken into custody without incident, police said.

The suspect was subsequently identified as Jose Perez, 38, of Middletown.

Perez has been charged with:

• Second-degree assault
• First-degree reckless endangerment
• First-degree unlawful restraint
• Second-degree breach of peace
• Carrying a dangerous weapon

Perez was being held on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court on Monday.