Fall River traffic stop leads to officer involved battery, drug arrest

On Sunday March 11, 2018 at around 1:10 a.m. Massachusetts State Troopers Joshua Pacheco and Robert Twitchell were on Route 79 in Fall River when they stopped a white Altima driven by a 31 year old man for texting while driving. The two passengers in the vehicle were both not wearing seat belts. After getting identification from all the occupants the Troopers returned to their cruiser.

A check of the information revealed that the, 29 year old Hyannis male, rear seat passenger had an active Warrant and a history of drug and firearm charges. Trooper Twitchell told the passenger to exit the vehicle which he did. As the passenger was being handcuffed he tensed up and turned clockwise from the Trooper. Trooper Pacheco then came in on the other side as the passenger continued to resist being handcuffed. The passenger was able to break free and struck Trooper Pacheco in forehead with his elbow.

After a brief struggle the passenger again broke free and immediately ran toward the rear passenger seat where he was previously sitting. He dove head first into the car reaching out into a pile of clothing on the rear seat. Fearing that he was reaching for a weapon Trooper Twitchell drew his firearm and Trooper Pacheco drew his taser. A short while later Trooper Antone Pereira arrived on scene. Troopers Pacheco and Pereira where able to remove the passenger again from the vehicle and handcuff him.

Located in the passenger area of the Altima was a brown paper bag with well over an ounce of marijuana. While in the rear of the cruiser the passenger was observed moving around when Trooper Twitchel opened the door to see what he was doing the passenger attempted to jump out. Trooper Twitchel asked for Troopers Pacheco and Pereira to assist in a search of the passenger. When they returned to the cruiser they observed the passenger was now sweating heavily and several plastic baggies were scattered throughout the rear of the cruiser. The passenger was removed and taken by EMS to Charlton Memorial Hospital where he was medically cleared. Found on the passenger was $1,220.52 as well as the 38 baggies of cocaine with a weight of 17 grams from the rear of the cruiser.

In addition to the warrant the passenger was charged with:

1) Possession with intent to distribute class B
2) Possession with intent to distribute class D
3) A & B on a police officer
4) Resisting arrest
5) Disorderly conduct
6) Failure to wear seat belt.