Fall River Police Arrest Two, Recover Gun

FALL RIVER — Two men are in custody and a firearm is recovered following a traffic stop and subsequent foot pursuit in Fall River.

On Tuesday at approximately 2:40 p.m., Officers Richard Saraiva and John Ruggiero were proactively patrolling in the area of Plymouth Avenue and Rodman Street. Officers Saraiva and Ruggiero were on patrol using police mountain bicycles, when they were nearly struck by a gray Chrysler Pacifica.

The operator of the vehicle was identified as 19-year-old Anbiorix Torres, along with a passenger identified as 18-year-old Neftaly Arroyo-Gomez. These individuals are well known to Fall River Police, and Torres, within the last month, has fled from police, who were trying to affect a traffic stop due to him not having a valid driver's license.

During Officer Ruggiero's interaction with Torres, Arroyo-Gomez suddenly exited the vehicle and began running from the area. Officer Ruggiero observed that Arroyo-Gomez was clutching an item with his left arm near his waistline. It was apparent that he was holding an item with significant weight to it, based on how firm he was clutching the area. Arroyo-Gomez ran heading toward the Stop & Shop at 501 Rodman Street. Multiple officers flooded the scene and set a perimeter in a effort to capture Arroyo-Gomez.

Officers Keith Pires and William Pavao spotted the suspect running in the area of Nashua and Blackstone Streets. A foot pursuit continued, and Officer Joshua Carreiro also arrived and spotted Arroyo-Gomez running in the backyard area of 512 Plymouth Avenue. Officer Carreiro continued pursuing Arroyo-Gomez, who ran into the residence. He was placed into custody without incident in the entry stairwell of 512 Plymouth Avenue.

Officer Amy Robinson began canvassing the backyard of 512 Plymouth Avenue, where Officer Carreiro had seen Arroyo-Gomez run from. Officer William Pavao also had seen Arroyo-Gomez in the rear yard of 512 Plymouth Avenue, crouching near the corner of the residence. Officers canvassed that area of the building and located a 9mm pistol containing five 9mm bullets hidden behind a section of vinyl siding.

While taking Torres in custody, Officers Ruggeiro and Saraiva observed a large quantity of marijuana (later determined to weight 3.9 ounces) in a bag on the floor within the vehicle, along with several cell phones strewn across the center console and passenger seat. The marijuana was seized, and between Arroyo-Gomez and Torres, $1,569 in U.S. currency was also seized as suspected profits from drug sales.

Arroyo-Gomez was booked for the following charges:

• Unlawful Carry/Possession of a Non-Large Capacity Firearm
• Unlawful Carry/Possess Firearm while Loaded in Public
• Possession of Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number
• Resisting Arrest
• Possess to Distribute Class D Drug
• Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle (outstanding warrant)

Anbiorix Torres was booked for the following charges:

• Unlawful Carry/Possession of a Non-Large Capacity Firearm
• Unlawful Carry/Possess Firearm while Loaded in Public
• Possession of Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number
• Operate a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended/Revoked License
• Possess to Distribute Class D Drug

-- Fall River Police