LEWISTON, Maine — Three Massachusetts residents were arrested Friday night after Lewiston Police say a stolen dump truck rammed a cruiser, crashed into a school playground fence, and left one officer injured.
On Friday, May 22, just before 8 p.m., Lewiston Police received a FLOCK alert indicating that a stolen vehicle out of Marlborough, Massachusetts, was operating in the downtown area. The vehicle was identified as a Ford dual-wheeled dump truck.
Officers located the vehicle near Bartlett Street and Walnut Street. When police attempted to stop it, the truck pulled into the rear parking lot of 84 Walnut Street. Police said the vehicle then intentionally rammed a cruiser, totaling it.
The chase continued down Howe Street and behind Longley School, where the dump truck crashed into a playground fence. Patrol officers apprehended the occupants as they attempted to flee from the disabled vehicle.
The driver, 23-year-old Antonio Moralespijoan of Marlborough, Massachusetts, was charged with reckless conduct, aggravated criminal mischief, refusing to submit to arrest, leaving the scene of an accident, theft by receiving stolen property, and theft by unauthorized use of property.
A passenger, 20-year-old Angelika Almeida of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was charged with theft by unauthorized use of property and possession of stolen property.
A second passenger, 37-year-old Steven Grossi of Lowell, Massachusetts, was charged with theft by unauthorized use of property, possession of stolen property, and refusing to submit to arrest.
The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Marlborough at approximately 7:25 a.m. Friday morning. Lewiston Police said they believe the suspects, all from Massachusetts, were in Lewiston to continue their crime spree.
One officer pursuing the suspects after the crash suffered a large laceration to the back of his head after coming into contact with the mangled fence. He was transported to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center by a fellow officer, where he received seven staples to close the wound.
The officer operating the cruiser that was rammed was not injured.
