Two police vehicles crashed while pursuing an alleged drunken driver this weekend.
The intoxicated man drove nearly 70 miles per hour on a local street while fleeing, and later fought with and spit at police, authorities said.
Emmanuel J. Ayuso, 24, of 1550 N. Main St., pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including three counts of assault and battery on a police officer, and four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Judge Timothy M. Bibaud ordered Mr. Ayuso held on $50,000 bail. Mr. Ayuso is to return to court Oct. 16 for a pretrial hearing.
About 1 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to North Street near American Lanes bowling alley on a report of an assault taking place, the police report said.
Mr. Ayuso reportedly argued with his girlfriend in the road and fled in a gray Oldsmobile Alero, police said.
The man was driving so fast he skidded into the parking lot of Los Hermanos, a store at Hook and Central streets, police said.
Police in two marked patrol cars followed the car, but the driver continued on Central Street at 60 to 70 mph. He continued south on Central Street toward Main Street, where he ran a red light, police said.
A cruiser driven by Officer Christopher Iozzo and a state police patrol car driven by Trooper Dylan Morris collided on Central and Main streets, police said.
Mr. Ayuso, who was driving his girlfriend's car, appears to have followed his girlfriend as she walked home from the bowling alley. After the girlfriend had gotten into her mother's car, Mr. Ayuso allegedly damaged it when he tried to block them in the Central Street area, police said.
Mr. Ayuso allegedly also caused damage to the bowling alley building with the car, police said.
Police then received a separate report of an altercation in the area of Charlton and Liberty streets.
Officer Denis LeBoeuf arrested Mr. Ayuso, who charged at the officer and tried to push past him to get to his girlfriend's brother. The brother said Mr. Ayuso had punched him in the head, police reported.
Mr. Ayuso allegedly told police he had consumed beer and brandy. He said he ran from police because he did not have a license. He was so uncooperative, the report said, he had to be carried to the booking room and put in a holding cell. He was eventually placed in a restraint chair.
Police Chief Daniel R. Charette said in an interview that Officer Iozzo was not injured in the accident, and his cruiser is fixable. The most damage was to its laptop mount.
The trooper's car, which spun, sustained damage to its passenger side, the chief said.
Copyright 2012 Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Inc.All Rights Reserved
