Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Assault On I-95 In Madison: State PD

MADISON, CT — A traffic stop in Madison would later lead to the arrest of a Massachusetts man, Jens Morel-Serrata, 24, of Lawrence, who is facing assault and kidnapping charges, Connecticut State Police said.

At 10:50 p.m. Friday state police stopped a vehicle on Interstate 95 between exit 60 and 61 in Madison for a traffic violation.

"During the traffic stop, a dark colored 4 door sedan pulled up next to the State Trooper, stopping in the right travel lane," state police said. "The operator of the sedan exited the vehicle and immediately told the Trooper that the passenger in his car ha(d) assaulted him, and threatened harm to him with a firearm."

A trooper searched the vehicle and found Morel-Serrata in the rear passenger side seat, and he was taken into custody, state police said.

The victim, a taxi driver from New York City told police that he had picked up Morel-Serrata in the Bronx and agreed to take him to a location in Connecticut but Morel-Serrata demanded to be driven to Massachusetts, police said.

"The victim also reported that Morel-Serrata pushed through the barrier between in the taxi and began to strike him, and Morel-Serrata threatened the victim, implying that he had a gun," state police said.

The victim said he had a lump on his head, police said, and they were able to see damage to the vehicle's safety screen. Morel-Serrata is accused of stealing two cell phones from the victim, police said. No firearm was found.

He is charged with second-degree kidnapping, first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree assault, third-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and second-degree threatening.