Fugitive arrested in Wareham after allegedly assaulting three officers
"This is a guy who I believe needs to be incarcerated. I think he’s a threat to the public."
A 24-year-old fugitive wanted for violent crimes in Fall River this week was arrested in Wareham Friday after he allegedly assaulted three officers, police say.
Anthony Vieira, who authorities suspect is also behind overnight break-ins at two local stores, was detained after kicking and punching two officers inside a Charge Pond Road home, according to Wareham Police Chief John Walcek.
Earlier in the morning, Vieira allegedly shoved and injured Officer Aaron Pacheco — who was hospitalized and later released — during a struggle to arrest him, Walcek told reporters at a press conference.
Vieira, who has no certain address, was initially wanted for “other violent crimes” in Fall River this week, according to Wareham police, who were tipped off by authorities there that Vieira could be in town.
Walcek described Vieira as a “desperate and dangerous fugitive.”
“This is a guy who I believe needs to be incarcerated,” he said. “I think he’s a threat to the public. I think if he had the chance right now, he would try to escape from our station.”
According to authorities, police received an alarm call at 2:54 a.m. Friday at AJ Marks Jewelers at 3202 Cranberry Highway. On arrival, officers found that the store had been broken into and robbed of several items, Walcek said.
About 20 minutes later, Pacheco found and identified Vieira running on Cahoon Road and ordered him to stop, he said.
“Mr. Vieira went to the ground and Officer Pacheco went to arrest him and had difficulty handcuffing him because he had numerous watches on. He then shoved Officer Pacheco off, injuring him, and ran,” Walcek said. “Officer Pacheco then tried to tase him to no avail and still, even though he was injured, chased him. However, he lost him at that point.”
Police then determined Vieira also allegedly broke in and stole $60 from a Barker Road 7-Eleven earlier on Friday around 12:30 a.m., according to Walcek.
Following a search from several departments, detectives were led to 227 Charge Pond Road around 7:15 a.m., where they found Vieira inside the basement of the home, Walcek said.
He was arrested after “a violent struggle” with two officers, kicking one at least twice and throwing punches at the other, Walcek said.
“The officers of the Wareham Police Department did a phenomenal job in catching him,” he said.
Three other people at the residence were also arrested, but their names and charges were not immediately available later Friday morning as police carried out a search warrant, he said.
Walcek anticipated Vieira will be charged with breaking and entering, resisting arrest, and multiple counts of assault and battery on a police officer.
Pacheco and Vieira — who suffered minor injuries to his leg after he hopped a barbed-wire fence — were both brought to Tobey Hospital for treatment and were released Friday, Walcek said.
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Authorities had been searching for Vieira since he defaulted on a Jan. 29 court appearance and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
According to Wareham police, Vieira was arrested in November for allegedly breaking into two local jewelry stores, including the AJ Marks Jewelers that was robbed Friday. He appeared in court where prosecutors sought to impose a $10,000 bail.
Judge Edward Sharkansky reduced the bail amount to $3,500, which Vieira posted in December, according to a police statement issued last week.
“On a chilly Sunday morning in November several officers pursued Mr. Vieira who aggressively tried to escape their dragnet and now here we are again looking for this man who is already a convicted felon,” Walcek said in the statement, “Although the (district attorney’s) office requested a high bail a judge rejected that and my concern is not only for the safety of my officers but the safety of the public.”
Walcek said he couldn’t speak to the charges against Vieira in Fall River, but said “they speak to his desperation.”
He added that authorities were working to bring Vieira back to court as soon as Friday afternoon.
