Cops: Man allegedly stabbed woman, juvenile

EAST HAVEN — A man was arrested after allegedly stabbing a woman and a juvenile, taking the woman’s car and engaging in a chase with police early Tuesday, according to town police.

Jose Montero, 43, got into an argument with a woman early Tuesday after she said he couldn’t use her car in the middle of the night, police said. After he found her keys, a struggle began and continued once he reached the car, the department said in a release Wednesday.

The woman entered her car in an attempt to prevent Montero from leaving, police said. Montero then waved a knife at the woman, and, during a struggle, allegedly injured the woman and juvenile with the knife, the department said.

Montero then fled the residence in the woman’s car, according to police.

Officers were dispatched to a home in East Haven early Tuesday after receiving a 911 hangup call. Dispatch personnel told officers that a woman was heard screaming for help in the background before the call disconnected, according to police.

Arriving officers found the woman suffering from nonlife-threatening stab wounds to her arm and upper chest area, the release said. A juvenile also was suffering from non-life-threatening stab wounds to his hand, the department said.

Both the woman and juvenile were transported to the hospital for further treatment, police said, and officers on the scene allegedly found a firearm stolen from West Haven.

Officers were canvassing the area around 3 a.m. when Montero drove by in the victim’s car, police said.

Though officers attempted to stop him, Montero allegedly “disregarded the officers, increased his speed,” and led the officers on a pursuit into New Haven, the department said.

Montero crashed at the intersection of Rossette and Button streets, police said, and was taken into custody after allegedly struggling with officers.

Before the car was towed away, officers found the knife that they think was used in the argument, the department said.

Montero was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital after the crash, and was taken to the East Haven Police Department after he was released, the release said.

Montero is charged with first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace, risk of injury to a minor, two counts of seconddegree criminal mischief, criminal possession of a firearm, engaging police in a pursuit, interfering with police and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, according to police.

He was held in lieu of $250,000 bail, the Police Department said.