Man convicted of striking two CT judicial marshals with car while fleeing arrest

A Massachusetts man was convicted of assaulting two judicial marshals as he fled from the service of an arrest warrant at Manchester Superior Court in 2020, officials said.

Jose Lopez, 46, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was found guilty by a jury at New Britain Superior Court on Feb. 9 of two counts of assault on public safety personnel and one count each of first-degree assault and evading responsibility resulting in serious physical injury, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.

On March 2, 2020, Lopez was fleeing from the service of an arrest warrant that was to be served at Manchester Superior Court when he struck two state judicial marshals with a motor vehicle and fled to Massachusetts, court records said.

One marshal suffered severe permanent injuries, according to the judicial department.

“Former Marshals Michael West and Martin Brown exemplify the highest ideals of law enforcement, putting themselves in a hazardous situation in an attempt to protect the public from a dangerous individual,” said Senior Assistant State’s Attorney David Clifton and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Lakshmi Swami, who prosecuted the case. “We honor their courage and recognize the tremendous toll, and lifelong consequences, that the defendant’s actions have had upon them, their families and friends.”

Lopez’s sentencing is scheduled for April 17, according to the department.