Man arrested after New Haven to Bridgeport chase disrupts hearing

BRIDGEPORT — A man accused of leading police on a chase from New Haven to Bridgeport on two flat tires spent his arraignment hearing on Friday afternoon yelling about how he was shot at by officers.

Marvin Owens was brought handcuffed into the Golden Hill Street courtroom by judicial marshals, cursing and yelling before being dragged away moments later.

But at Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton’s direction, Owens was brought back before her again, yelling all the way.

“Beat me like a man, that’s all I ask. They came to my work and shot guns at me,” he repeatedly shouted.

The judge then began to list off the charges against the 54-year-Owens — 15 counts of violating protective orders, first-degree assault, thirddegree assault, unlawful restraint and reckless endangerment. But those were just the outstanding ones. He is also charged with attempted assault on emergency personnel, running from police and reckless driving in connection with the chase.

“They shot guns at me,” Owens repeated, interrupting the judge. “Yes, I heard that,” Dayton responded. “I’m just trying to do my job, give me a break.”

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Pamela Esposito urged the judge to set a high bond for Owens pointing out his extensive criminal record going back to 1991.

Despite a slew of protective orders, Owens is accused both in Bridgeport and Milford of assaulting a woman. In his last incident, he is accused on Jan. 11 of stabbing her repeatedly in the head with a broken bottle and then leaving her unconscious on I-95.

He also has domestic violence charges pending in Stamford involving another woman.

Owens’ lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Joanna Carloni, urged the judge for some leniency.

But Dayton ordered Owens held in lieu of $1.5 million bond.

“The defendant has proven himself to be a credible danger to the community and the protective party in this case,” she added.

“I want a trial right now, today,” Owens retorted. “There will be no plea bargain.”

The judge continued the case to Jan. 26.

“My father’s a good dude,” said Owens’ son, Marvin Owens Jr., who was the only person sitting in the back of the large courtroom during the arraignment hearing. “He’s not the monster they are making him out to be, he raised two kids, one who has a master’s degree.”

The son admitted that his father had made a “poor choice” running from police in New Haven but said his father had been afraid.

According to the police report, on Thursday U.S. Marshals and Bridgeport police detectives had gone to Owens’ place of work in New Haven to arrest him on several outstanding warrants for violating a protective order and the alleged assaults.

As they approached Owens, the report states he ran to a box truck and got into the cab. The marshals and detectives surrounded the truck and one of the officers got onto the running board of the truck and ordered Owens to get out, the report states.

But Owens locked the truck doors, started the truck and began backing towards one of the detectives, according to the report.

Another detective fired his gun at the front of the truck but did not strike Owens who then drove out of the parking lot at a high speed, the report states.

Police pursued Owens who, despite getting two flat tires when state police deployed a stop strip, drove at a high speed southbound on I-95.

The report states that Owens exited the highway in Bridgeport and crashed into a car and tow truck. He then got out of the truck and was captured following a short foot chase, the report states.

The state’s inspector general is investigating the shooting incident.

Owens is no stranger to the criminal justice system here.

In 2016, just days after he was charged with domestic violence, he was arrested after phoning in a threat that he was going to shoot everyone in the Margaret E. Morton Government Center. He was later sentenced to 14 months for the threat and the domestic violence charges.

While out on probation he often loudly haranged city and state workers, contending they were part of a conspiracy against him.

For some time, his photograph hung on the wall in city and courthouse offices warning that if anyone saw Owens they should immediately call police.