Three residents from Massachusetts are facing serious charges after stealing a dump truck in Marlborough and driving it to Maine. Worse, they rammed it into a police car and then through a school playground fence before trying to run away.
Prior to the incident, the Lewiston Police Department had received a FLOCK camera alert on Friday, May 22. This let them know that the stolen vehicle from Marlborough, Massachusetts, was entering the downtown Lewiston area.
Police identified the vehicle in question as a Ford dual-wheeled dump truck. It had been reported stolen earlier that same morning, at 7:25 am in Marlborough.
The truck was found near Bartlett Street and Walnut Street, where police attempted to stop it unsuccessfully. This was shortly before officers were able to corner the driver in a rear parking lot, with nowhere to go.
Suspects Ram Into Police Cruiser With Dump Truck
The police vehicle was rendered completely totalled after being rammed into by the dump truck. Despite this, officers still pursued the truck as it drove around the back side of Longley School, where the truck crashed into the fence.
Instead of waiting for officers to apprehend them, the vehicle’s three occupants all tried to leave on foot. The three didn’t gett oo far as officers were able to capture them shortly after.
The driver was identified as 23-year-old Antonio Moralespijoan of Marlborough. The other two passengers were identified as 20-year-old Angelika Almeida of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and 37-year-old Steven Grossi of Lowell, Massachusetts.
All Three Passengers Face Various Charges
Moralespiojoan 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 said property. The other two passengers weren’t charged with nearly as harsh offenses.
Almeida was charged with theft by unauthorized use of property and possession of stolen property. Grossi was charged with the same as well as refusing to submit to arrest.
If convicted of these charges, the three could face a collective of 18 years in prison and over $10,000 in fines. It’s unclear if the suspects will also be charged with paying for the damage to the playground fence of the police vehicle.
Reactions To Dump Truck Ramming Into Fence and Police Car
Investigators believe that the three suspects were likely in the area to continue their previous criminal activity with the intention of not getting caught. According to the Lewiston Maine Police Department, “Lewiston Police believe the suspects, all from Massachusetts, were in Lewiston to continue their crime spree.”
While the officer in the vehicle that was rammed didn’t suffer any injuries, an officer pursuing the sump truck suffered a serious head injury. Another officer sustained a cut to the back of his head from the playground fence.
The damaged cruiser and destroyed playground fence marked the dramatic end to a 200-mile-long, multi-state stolen vehicle incident. All suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.