Norwich — A man incarcerated at Hartford Correctional Center was arrested on assault charges by Norwich police Tuesday in connection with an axe and knife attack on three victims in Taftville in November.

Two victims suffered serious lacerations in the attack, including deep cuts to the head, ribs, arms and hands, one male victim suffering a possible collapsed lung and his wife suffering a severed tendon in the hand. The third victim, the woman’s brother, had cuts to his fingers.

Rafael Alvarado-Cortes, 23, was charged at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday with two counts each of second-degree assault, attempted first-degree assault and carrying a dangerous weapon. He was arraigned in Norwich Superior Court on Tuesday and was ordered held on a $150,000 bond. The judge also issued a protective order for the victims and ordered Alvarado-Cortes to undergo a mental health evaluation and a medical evaluation based on medicines he is taking. His next court date is Feb. 20.

An affidavit written by Norwich police Officer Elizabeth Harsley said police were called to 43 Merchants Ave. on Nov. 19, 2017, for a report of an outside disturbance. Harsley said she saw a large amount of “red blood-like substance all over the sidewalk” in front of the residence and a large double-edged axe with a 2-foot-long metal handle.

Witnesses and the victims told Harsley and Groton Town Police Officer Albert Martinez, called to help translate for the Hispanic family, that the female victim had lived with Alvarado-Cortes for five months but broke up with him to reunite with her estranged husband.

On Nov. 19, the husband, wife and wife’s brother arrived at the residence and Alvarado-Cortes also arrived and parked behind the brother’s vehicle. Alvarado-Cortes allegedly got out of his vehicle and attacked his ex-girlfriend’s husband with the axe, allegedly striking him several times. The woman’s brother intervened and took the axe away.

The woman came out of the residence and Alvarado-Cortes allegedly went to his car and retrieved a knife and allegedly attacked the woman’s husband again. As the woman attempted to intervene, she was wounded several times in the arms and hands, police said.

The woman’s brother drove the three victims to the William W. Backus Hospital, and Alvarado-Cortes allegedly fled the scene.

He called a witness’ phone while police still were on the scene and said he was at a sister's house in Hartford. With the phone on speaker, Martinez allegedly heard him say “Yeah, I stabbed him here, I stabbed him there.”

Hartford police were sent to a potential address for the sister, but Alvarado-Cortes was not there.

c.bessette@theday.com