Troopers, K9 Nab Man After Chase In Charlestown, Somerville

CHARLESTOWN, MA — After a routine traffic stop turned into a tussle, deployment of a stun gun and a police chase across Charlestown and Somerville state troopers arrested a man and will charge him with driving under the influence.

Around 2:15 a.m. Monday, troopers saw the driver of a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer commit motor vehicle violations along New Rutherford Avenue in Charlestown. The troopers attempted to stop the SUV, but the driver kept going, according to police.

Troopers chased the SUV along Route 99 and then onto Route 38, where it blew a tire on a curb and continued -albeit at a much slower rate - before it stopped on Rt. 28 (Mystic Avenue) at Butler St. in Somerville. Both the driver and passenger jumped out and ran off, police said.

Troopers were able to grab the passenger, but said "the operator was combative." A Trooper deployed his electronic control weapon, but the man, later identified as Jerry A Martinez, 32, of Lynn, was able to scale a fence and escape.

That's when troopers brought in the K-9.

A little more than an hour later, the police dog was walking with his handler along Sidney Street in Somerville, around 3:20 a.m.where he found Martinez hiding, wedged between the two fences in brush, police said.

Authorities took Martinez to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment of an injury he suffered while jumping the fence and for a dog bite suffered during his apprehension. Police said he'll be booked when he's released from MGH.

Charges are still being finalized, according to police, but are expected to include operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and several other motor vehicle offenses, trespassing, and possession of open containers of alcohol and marijuana in a motor vehicle.

The passenger, a 24-year-old East Boston man, was questioned and released, according to State Police.