Group arrested in vicious beating of 60 year old Fall River man, assault on officer while firearms discovered

Fall River police have arrested three men in an alleged beating of a city man that also involved an off duty officer. The incident has also led to other charges.

According to Detective John Robinson, on June 4th, at approximately 8:00 p.m., off duty Sgt Steven R. Burt reported, as he was on his way home, that he observed a group of motorcycles and a car at the entrance to Wal-Mart on Brayton Avenue. One of the motorcycles was lying on the ground and it appeared to be a motor vehicle accident. Sgt. Burt then exited his vehicle to see if there were any injuries. As he was walking towards the group, he saw an older male on one knee attempting to stand up. The group of motorcycle riders surrounded the male while kicking and punching him from all sides. Sgt. Burt then ran over to the males to stop the assault. Sgt. Burt identified himself as a police officer; however the males continued the assault.

One of the motorcycle riders then attempted to flee on a white motorcycle. Sgt Burt yelled for the rider to stop, but he refused. Sgt Burt then grabbed the male attempting to flee, knocking him and the motorcycle to the ground. A fight ensued between the male, and Sgt. Burt. Another unidentified male then jumped in and began punching and kicking Sgt. Burt in the leg, face and ribs. As Sgt. Burt was engaged with the two unidentified males, he noticed another male running towards the sixty year old male. At that time, the male reached towards his waistband with his right hand and retrieved a firearm. The male with the firearm then began pistol-whipping the victim in the head. The firearm he brandished was described as a four or five inch, 1911 style pistol, black, with light colored wooden grips, and a silver barrel.

The unidentified male with the firearm then returned the firearm into his waistband. Sgt. Burt was able to disengage from the two males and began to head in the direction of the male with the firearm in attempt to confront him. The unidentified male raised his arms to his sides as if he was challenging Sgt. Burt. At that time, all the males got on their motorcycles and fled from the area. As the males began to flee, Sgt. Burt began to take photographs of the riders and motorcycles. The victim also left the area.

Over the next several days, Special Operations Division Officers Matt Mendes, Jose Dapedra, Greg Homen, Frank Andrade, and John Ruggiero, with assistance from Major Crimes Division Detectives, began a canvass of the area to locate the victim, witnesses, video, and other evidence to help identify the suspects and victim. As the investigation progressed, the victim was located and interviewed. The victim reported he was diagnosed at a Boston hospital with a subdural brain hemorrhage.

Cell phone, surveillance, and social media videos were located, reviewed, and as a result, two of the alleged assailants were identified as Angel Luciano, 21, of 364 Tecumseh St., and his “close associate” Anbiorix Torres, 20, of 1A Rolling Green Drive, both in Fall River. According to Robinson, Luciano has “strong ties with several violent street gangs” including the Gangster Disciples, Shotgun Crips and Asian Boyz. Investigators learned that Luciano and Torres recently purchased street bikes to transport narcotics. Investigators also learned that Torres stored the motorcycles at a storage facility on Lawton Street. Investigators obtained video, time stamped shortly after the assault, showing the motorcycle operators without helmets apparently celebrating and re-enacting the assault. A confidential informant came forward and produced the name of Jose Luis Gervacio, 25, 38 Garfield Street, Fall River as the third individual involved in the assault.

After the lengthy investigation which lasted over a week, Officer Mendes asked for and received search and arrest warrants for Torres, Luciano, and Gervacio and their properties. These warrants were executed simultaneously on June 13th.

During the execution of the warrants for Anbiorix Torres, Torres was located and taken into custody at his residence. 1,162 grams of suspected Heroin (street value of $110,000), a 9mm pistol, and ammunition were seized in his residence. A search warrant was executed at the storage facility. Seized were 2 loaded pistols (a 32 caliber and a 9mm), a loaded .223 caliber short barrel assault rifle, the motorcycle and helmet.

Angel Luciano was taken into custody without incident upon his arrival at the Storage facility on his motorcycle. His motorcycle and helmet were seized.

Jose Luis Gervacio was taken into custody without incident upon his arrival at his residence. A search warrant was executed and his motorcycle was seized from a shed in the rear yard.

The charges on Torres include:

A&B ON +60 / DISABLED WITH INJURY

LEAVE SCENE OF PROPERTY DAMAGE

A&B ON POLICE OFFICER

VANDALIZE PROPERTY

HEROIN/MORPHINE/OPIUM, TRAFFICKING IN 200 GRAMS

FIREARM, POSS./CARRY LARGE CAPACITY FIREARM OR FEE

AMMUNITION WITHOUT FID CARD

ASSAULT WEAPON, UNLICENSED SELL/POSSESS

FIREARM, CARRY/POSS. W/O LTC NON-LARGE CAPACITY IN

FIREARM VIOL WITH 2 PRIOR VIOLENT/DRUG CRIMES

FIREARM IN FELONY, POSSESS

The charges on Luciano include:

A&B ON POLICE OFFICER

A&B

LEAVE SCENE OF PROPERTY DAMAGE

VANDALIZE PROPERTY

A&B ON +60 / DISABLED WITH INJURY

The charges on Gervacio include:

A&B WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON

A&B ON POLICE OFFICER

A&B

LEAVE SCENE OF PROPERTY DAMAGE

VANDALIZE PROPERTY

ASSAULT W/DANGEROUS WEAPON +60

A&B ON +60 / DISABLED WITH INJURY

A&B, SERIOUS BODILY INJURY

The investigation is ongoing.