Springfield man arrested for assault after hitting police officer with vehicle

By JEFF HANOUILLE
Editor
ENFIELD – A Massachusetts man was arrested last Tuesday, March 2 at his Springfield residence on a fugitive from justice warrant issued by Enfield police stemming from an incident involving assault on a police officer, Police Chief Carl J. Sferrazza said.
Santo Feliberty, 20, of 22 Massreco St. in Springfield was charged with criminal attempt of first-degree assault, assault of a public safety official, criminal attempt of assault of a public safety official, engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, interfering with an officer and first-degree reckless endangerment.
He was arrested at his residence at about 6:30 a.m. by Springfield police and members of the state police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the state Department of Youth Services. Once handed over to Enfield police, Feliberty was held in lieu of $750,000 bond.
Sferrazza said last Dec. 18 at about 8:30 p.m. a suspicious car with Massachusetts dealer plates was stopped after it was spotted circling around the parking lot of the Olive Garden restaurant on Hazard Avenue. He said three individuals were in the car and that the group appeared to be suspiciously looking at cars.
When an officer approached the vehicle on the passenger side, he noticed a spotlight and a scanner in the center console, Sferrazza said.
The officer told the operator of the car, Feliberty, to turn the ignition off and started to walk behind the car to the driver’s side of the vehicle once Feliberty complied.
As he was walking behind the car, the officer heard the ignition of the car start up and saw Feliberty’s hand go up to the transmission shifter and move it out of the park position.
The officer was then struck in the right leg by the near rear bumper of the car, which subsequently sped off resulting in a pursuit toward Massachusetts.
While Feliberty was not apprehended that evening, with the help of Massachusetts State Police he was identified as the driver of the vehicle and a warrant for his arrest was issued on Jan. 17.
On March 3, Feliberty was arrested and on March 5 he was handed over to Enfield police who picked him up at Springfield District Court. Feliberty was then transported to Enfield, where he was charged and held in lieu of bond.
The officer involved in the incident was not seriously injured, Sferrazza said.