Marlborough Man Charged After Stolen Dump Truck Chase In Maine Injures Officer

MARLBOROUGH, MA — A Marlborough man is facing charges after police in Maine pursued a stolen vehicle that ultimately crashed, according to police.

Police said officers in Lewiston, Maine, received a Flock alert just before 8 p.m. Friday, indicating a Ford dual-wheeled dump truck reported stolen out of Marlborough was operating in the downtown area. Officers found the vehicle near Bartlett Street and Walnut Street and tried to stop it, police said.

Subscribe

The truck pulled into the rear parking lot of 84 Walnut St., then intentionally rammed a cruiser when officers closed in, totaling the police vehicle, police said.

Officers continued pursuing the truck down Howe Street and to the rear of Longley School, where it crashed into a playground fence, police said. Patrol officers then apprehended the occupants as they tried to flee from the disabled vehicle.

Lewiston police identified the driver as 23-year-old Antonio Moralespijoan of Marlborough. He 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, was charged with theft by unauthorized use of property and possession of stolen property, according to police.

A third passenger, 37-year-old Steven Grossi of Lowell, was charged with theft by unauthorized use of property, possession of stolen property and refusing to submit to arrest, police said.

The dump truck had been reported stolen out of Marlborough at about 7:25 a.m. Friday morning, according to police. Lewiston police said they believe the three Massachusetts suspects were in Lewiston to continue a crime spree.

Police also said an 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. The officer was taken to St. Mary's Regional Medical Center by another officer and received seven staples, according to police. The officer whose cruiser was rammed was not injured.

See Also:

• School Bus Drivers And Monitors Go On Strike In Marlborough
• Marlborough Downtown Pop-Up Shops Return For Fourth Year
• 3 Suspects Caught After Attempted Vehicle Theft, Crash In Marlborough