Boston, Brockton and New Bedford men arrested by Massachusetts State Police, local police, after two Troopers injured

Massachusetts State Police, along with Boston, Dedham, and Westwood Police, Monday arrested three occupants of an SUV that fled from a motor vehicle stop in Dorchester. As the driver accelerated away from the stop on Blue Hill Avenue, the vehicle’s left front door struck two Troopers. The Troopers were not seriously injured and began to search for the vehicle and assisted in the eventual capture of the suspects.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, the incident’s sequence of events began at approximately 10:30 a.m. when Trooper Paul Oliveira on patrol out of the State Police-Milton Barracks observed a black Land Rover being operated on Blue Hill Avenue (Route 28) with no front license plate and extremely dark window tint. Trooper Oliveira stopped the Land Rover at the intersection with Tennis Road and was backed up by Trooper Richard Walls. Because of the extreme window tint – later determined to allow only 3 percent of light through, well below the legal requirement of at least 35 percent – Troopers approached the SUV and directed the driver to lower his window. The Troopers observed all three males in the vehicle appeared to be extremely nervous. Troopers returned to a cruiser; a subsequent query of the driver, identified as 25-year-old Tylique K. Ortiz-Howard of Boston, revealed a criminal history involving firearms.

A Boston Police Officer responded as further backup. The Troopers re-approached the Land Rover and asked Ortiz-Howard to step out of the vehicle. Ortiz-Howard immediately became hostile and began yelling. After he refused repeated orders to exit the SUV, Troopers reached into the driver’s window to open the door. Ortiz-Howard placed the vehicle into drive and sped away, causing the door to strike both Troopers. Troopers notified State Police Troop H Headquarters that the suspect vehicle had fled south on Blue Hill Avenue. The Troopers observed one of the passengers throwing items out of the fleeing SUV’s window as it turned onto Woodhaven Street. Troop H Headquarters broadcast a Be On the Look Out (BOLO) alert for the vehicle.

A short time later a Boston Police Officer observed the suspect vehicle on Route 1 in West Roxbury heading toward Dedham. A Dedham Police Officer subsequently located the Land Rover parked behind a Holiday Inn on Ariadne Road in Dedham and saw the three men running into the hotel. State Police, Boston Police, and Westwood Police converged on the hotel. As Trooper Walls pulled up outside the Holiday Inn at approximately 10:55 a.m., he observed one of the passengers from the Land Rover running out of the hotel and placed him in custody. That passenger was later identified as 24-year-old Luis F. Santos of New Bedford. Meanwhile Boston, Dedham, and Westwood Police Officers located the driver, Ortiz-Howard and the other passenger, 21-year-old Tristian D. Howard of Brockton, on the second floor of the hotel and apprehended them.

The three men were transported to the State Police-Milton Barracks and booked. When placed in a cell Troopers recovered a pink pill that ORTIZ-HOWARD had attempted to flush down the toilet. Charges are as follow.

Ortiz-Howard was charged with Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Failure to Stop for Police, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Number Plate Violation, Window Obstruction Violation, Possession of a Class E Narcotic, Marked Lanes Violation, and Driving without License in Possession.

Howard was charged with Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, and Accessory After the Fact of a Felony.

Santos was charged with Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, and Accessory After the Fact of a Felony.

Troopers contacted a bail clerk, who set bail for each arrestee at $25,000 cash. Troopers transported the three to the Norfolk County House of Correction to be held unless able to post bail. They were expected to be arraigned in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court today.