Driver arrested after striking police cruisers in pursuit across state lines
By: Chloe Leshner
cleshner@abc6.com
@ChloeLeshner
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – A Fall River man faces a multitude of charges after leading several police departments on a chase across state lines, striking two police cruisers during the pursuit.
East Providence Police arrested Bryan Figueroa, 20, of Fall River, on multiple charges following the chase from Fall River into East Providence.
"We were able to stop it here in East Providence and get him off the street and take away that safety issue," says Lt. Thomas Rush of the East Providence Police Department.
Fall River Police said Figueroa smashed the glass front door of the Fall River Police Station around 7:15 p.m. before fleeing the scene in a Jeep. Officers were able to obtain a partial read of the vehicle’s license plate, which they shared with nearby police departments to help identify and apprehend the suspect.
East Providence Police told ABC6 that a chase began shortly before 8:00 p.m. involving the suspect’s Jeep and several Massachusetts Police Departments.
After striking a Seekonk Police cruiser in Massachusetts, the chase continued into Rhode Island.
Police said Figueroa struck a second Seekonk Police cruiser in East Providence at Highland Avenue and Catamore Boulevard before being taken into custody by East Providence Police.
But still, the vandalism didn’t stop.
"He was given a paper cup to drink water in the cell block and he proceeded to stuff the paper cup in the toilet of the cell, turn the toilet on, and flood the jail cell out," says Lt. Rush.
Figueroa was charged with the following offenses:
- Felony assault with a dangerous weapon
- Reckless eluding
- Vandalism
- 2 counts of being a fugitive from justice (one each for Fall River and Seekonk Police)
Figueroa is scheduled to be arraigned in Rhode Island’s 6th District Court on Monday.
Seekonk Police were not available for comment on their involvement in the pursuit.
©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2018
