New Bedford Police arrest repeat drug offender after vehicle chase

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — The New Bedford Police Department said it arrested a man on narcotics charges after a vehicle and foot chase in the city’s west end Sunday.

Brighton Kirk Hernandez was charged with possession with intent to distribute classes A and B drugs, failing to stop, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, illegally attaching plates, and operating an unregistered/uninsured vehicle.

The department said that around 7 p.m. on Aug 27 an officer spotted a vehicle with expired plates that did not match the vehicle it was registered to in the area of Round Street and Maple Street.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, which sped off in an attempt to flee.

The officer pursued the car to the parking lot of St. Luke’s Hospital, where the driver, 21-year-old Hernandez, exited the car and attempted to open one of the hospital’s locked doors.

Hernandez then fled towards Allen Street, and was eventually found hiding under the porch of a house on Clover Street.

Officers placed him under arrest and searched his vehicle, where they found three bags of fentanyl and one bag of crack cocaine, as well as $599 in cash.

The department said that Hernandez was under parole at the time, and his parole officer requested a detainer warrant be served to him.

The department added that Hernandez had past convictions for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery of a police officer, possession with intent to distribute class B drugs, and possession of fentanyl.