Habitual Drug Offender Involved in Chase and Crash Into Police Cruiser Sentenced to Prison
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
January 17, 2017
A 37-year-old Fall River man indicted for striking a Massachusetts State Police Cruiser, fleeing the scene and distributing heroin was sentenced last week to serve five to six years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today.
Eric Almeida pleaded guilty last Thursday in Fall River Superior Court to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (habitual offender), operating a motor vehicle to endanger (habitual offender), leaving the scene of property damage (habitual offender), possession with intent to distribute heroin (habitual offender) and possession of cocaine.
On November 20, 2015, while the defendant was driving in The City of New Bedford, an Environmental Police Officer attempted to stop the defendant’s vehicle after the defendant was witnessed obstructing an intersection on South Front Street.
The defendant chose to flee and led Massachusetts State Police, Environmental Police and New Bedford Police on a chase through various sections of the city. During the chase, the defendant struck a police cruiser in an effort to get away. No one was injured in the crash.
The defendant eventually left his vehicle in a parking lot on South Street and fled on foot before being apprehended by Massachusetts State Police troopers.
The defendant was found to be in possession of 36 bags of heroin and a small amount of cocaine.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Aaron Strojny and the sentence was handed down by Judge Raffi Yessayan.
“This defendant has a history of dealing drugs,” said District Attorney Quinn. “This sentence will keep him off the streets for up to six years, which is necessary to protect the community and stop him from selling drugs.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576–cell