Mass. Man Flees Into Woods After Alleged Theft Incident

A Massachusetts man was arrested and arraigned last week on charges after allegedly getting caught stealing baby formula from the Walmart on North Broadway in Salem.

Ricardo I. Vives, 28, who had a last known address of N. East St. in Holyoke, MA, was arrested on Jan. 10, 2015, and charged with willful concealment/theft and resisting arrest or detention.

According to police, officers were patrolling the parking lot of Walmart when a loss prevention employee flagged them down about the incident. The man, later identified as Vives, had allegedly stolen several cans of baby formula and fled the area after employees approached him about the theft.

During the process of searching the area, officers were sent to an apartment complex nearby where Vives was reportedly hiding behind a dumpster. Vives later fled into a wooded area near the building and later, officers caught up with him on the ground behind a tree. The officers reportedly also saw the formula hanging out of his pockets, according to a report.

After approaching him, Vives allegedly resisted arrest and fled again, deeper into the woods. Police then set up a perimeter around the area and continued a food chase into the woods and swamp behind Walmart. He was then captured, taken into custody, and held without bail.

Editor’s note: The following post was derived from information supplied by the Salem Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch arrest report.