Fall River Man Caught After Car Backfired

FALL RIVER — A car backfiring in a Fall River neighborhood ended up leading police to the scene of an alleged break-in in progress Wednesday night.

Fall River police said Officer Zachary Oliveira responded to a report of shots fired at around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at Kilburn and Dwelly streets.

According to police, Oliveira saw a backpack on the ground while canvassing the area, just before coming upon a man — later identified as Jacob Souza of Fall River — going through the back seat of a car nearby.

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Oliveira allegedly found that the man had broken into the vehicle, and was taking items from the car and putting them in his pockets, police said.

Souza was arrested and is facing charges of felony breaking and entering into a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, and possessing a class B and a class E drug.

Police later learned that the initial reports of shots fired was due to a vehicle backfiring in the area.

Loud bangs caused by cars backfiring are often mistaken for gunshots.