Rhode Island man accused of kidnapping and victimizing 75-year-old woman in Massachusetts

PLYMOUTH – A Rhode Island man was arraigned today on charges stemming from an incident where he is accused of kidnapping and victimizing a 75-year-old woman, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz has announced.

According to a press release, 36-year-old Michael J. Guerrero is charged with Carjacking, Kidnapping, Indecent Assault & Battery on a 60+ or Disabled Person, Assault & Battery on a 60+ or Disabled Person, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon on a person 60+, and Threat to Commit Crime.

Guerrero pleaded not guilty to the charges and was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing to see whether he will continue to be held pending trial.

On September 15th, a 75-year-old woman reported a violent incident from the night before to Pembroke Police where she had been victimized by an unknown assailant. The woman told law enforcement she had gone to a Ninety-Nine Restaurant that night for dinner and had left the establishment without her wallet and cell phone. The woman returned to the restaurant at about 9:15 p.m. and was approached by a male individual claiming to work at the restaurant as a valet driver. The front door to the Ninety-Nine Restaurant was locked at that time, and the male individual offered to drive the woman to the back entrance, which he claimed was unlocked. The man entered the driver’s seat of the woman’s vehicle and drove her away from the restaurant parking lot and toward the highway. The suspect then told the woman he wanted her to perform lewd acts and stated he had a gun if she did not comply. Eventually, once the suspect had driven to a four-way intersection in what the victim believed to be Providence or Johnston, Rhode Island, the woman attempted to escape the vehicle. The suspect then turned off the engine, exited the car and threw the keys away from the victim before fleeing the scene. The victim was subsequently able to return to Massachusetts and reported the incident to Pembroke Police.

The Pembroke Police Department posted surveillance images of the suspect from the incident to their social media pages asking the public for assistance in identifying him. Employees at numerous restaurants in and around Pembroke came forward with information stating a male individual resembling the suspect had visited their establishments prior to the kidnapping. Through witness interviews and additional surveillance footage, investigators determined the suspect had used a rideshare app to get transportation to and from various locations the night of the incident.

Preliminary investigation positively identified Guerrero as the male individual seen on surveillance footage during the incident as well as the rideshare passenger who had visited several local bars and restaurants in the Pembroke area shortly before the incident.

He was arrested by law enforcement in Providence, Rhode Island on September 24th and signed a waiver to be extradited back to Massachusetts the following day.

Guerrero is scheduled to next appear in court on October 6th for a dangerousness hearing.