Wanted New Bedford man who fled with children apprehended in Connecticut, children are safe

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — A man wanted out of New Bedford for child rape has been arrested in Connecticut.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday that 46-year-old Leon Mejia-Vicente was apprehended in Willimantic, Connecticut around 3 p.m.

The office also said Mejia-Vicente’s children, who were also reported missing and endangered, was with him and are now in custody of Connecticut youth services.

“I am very pleased that this afternoon the fugitive was apprehended without incident and the children were located and are now in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Child and Family,” said District Attorney Thomas Quinn.

According to investigators, New Bedford detectives were granted a warrant for the suspect June 8 on sexual assault charges involving a child.

When authorities went to serve the warrant Mejia-Vicente fled with his two children, ages 17 and five.

The district attorney’s office along with New Bedford police put out an alert for all three earlier this week.

Law enforcement praised the efforts of Det. Samuel-Algarin Mojica, who was recently appointed as a liaison to the Central American community in New Bedford as being an integral part of the apprehension.

“If not for the trust developed with Detective Algarin-Mojica, vital information may have never made its way to authorities,” said New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira.

A court appearance for Mejia-Vicente has not been announced.