2 accused of injuring West Springfield police officers during chase face charges of attempted murder

WEST SPRINGFIELD Two alleged shoplifters are accused of dragging and running over a police officer with their car and ramming the cruiser of a second officer while trying to flee from arrest in a busy shopping plaza during Christmas shopping season.

The two officers were taken to the hospital by the West Springfield Fire Department and treated for minor injuries they received from the incident, police said.

Marieliz Morales, 35, and Carmelo Vega, 36, both of Hartford, were each arrested on multiple charges including two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, possession of a Class B drug, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of a personal injury crash and shoplifting of $250 or more, police said.

Vega was also charged with several motor vehicle offenses and on a warrant charging him with being a fugitive from justice.

At about 3 p.m., Thursday, police responded to the Stop & Shop for reports of a woman who left the store on 935 Riverdale St. without paying for a shopping cart full of food. She ran into a waiting vehicle when officers tried to stop her, police said.

The vehicle quickly accelerated and the door closed on the officer, causing him to become stuck and unable to break free from the vehicle. The officer was dragged by the fleeing vehicle and eventually broke free, as his leg and foot were run over by the rear tire, police said.

Vega continued on and is accused of ramming the drivers side cruiser of a second officer who tried to stop him by blocking the road. That officer was injured and trapped in his cruiser, police said.

The couple then continued to flee, striking another vehicle before getting stuck on a traffic island they were trying to drive over. They then exited the car and tried to run away, police said.

An officer directing traffic nearby quickly apprehended Morales. A West Springfield Police K9 officer and his dog soon after tracked down Vega in front of the Cinemark building and arrested him.

Multiple concerned citizens came to the aid of the officers and assisted in locating both Vega and Morales, police said.

While searching the car before it was towed, police also found crack cocaine and powder cocaine in the vehicle, police said.