Three charged, two from Fall River, after Swansea, Somerset chase, officer’s cruiser hit

Both Swansea and Somerset Police were involved in a chase that led to three being charged including two from Fall River.

According to Swansea Police, on Thursday, 11/15/18, at approximately 2:33 A.M. Officer Thomas Nolan observed a black Honda Accord having a Connecticut registration commit motor vehicle infractions on Main St. Officer Nolan effected a motor vehicle stop where the Honda came to rest on Elm St. As Officer Nolan exited his cruiser and approached the rear of the Honda it accelerated rapidly driving off into Somerset at a high rate of speed. The Somerset Police Department was notified and searched the area for the Honda.

Swansea Officer Kyle Harmon observed the Honda traveling west on Wilbur Ave as it re entered Swansea. Officer Harmon attempted to stop the Honda that refused to stop. Somerset Officer Mike Demoranville assisted Officer Harmon in pursuing the Honda. The Honda committed several motor vehicle infractions including driving over a lawn on Wilbur Ave. and colliding with Officer Harmon’s cruiser. The Honda fled the scene ultimately traveling on O’ Bannon Place which is a dead end street. The Honda drove across a lawn through a back yard where it crashed into a thick wooded area where all three occupants fled the vehicle into thick brush.

A K9 was requested and Swansea Officers Nolan, Dan Walsh, Detective Jonathan Boyd, and Sgt. John Souza created a perimeter and assisted in the search of the occupants. Somerset Officer Jared Linhares and his K9, Viepo, responded and searched the wooded area assisted by Officer Harmon. The three occupants were located hiding in a rear yard off of Willet Ave. in thick brush and were taken into custody without incident. The driver of the Honda was identified as Clayon Richards age twenty nine of Inwood, NY. The passengers were identified as Taiquan Teixeira, 24, of Fall River, and Joshua McKay Smith, 20, also from Fall River. All three occupants were transported to the Swansea Police Station where they were booked and held until they were later transported to the Fall River Criminal Justice Center for arraignment.

Both Teixeira and McKay Smith were charged with disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and trespassing. Richards was charged with disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, trespassing, operating a motor vehicle without a license, refusing to stop for police, operating a motor vehicle to endanger, malicious destruction of property less than $1,200, two charges of leaving the scene of a property damage crash, and marked lanes violations.

There were no injuries and minor damage to both vehicles involved in the crash.