Driver Allegedly Drags Detective, Rams Cruisers in Wild New Bedford Chase

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — A New Bedford man faces a long list of charges after allegedly dragging a detective with his car, nearly striking four people outside a soup kitchen and crashed into two police cruisers during a pursuit through the city’s downtown and beyond Monday evening.

Chaos Erupts Outside Pilgrim Soup Kitchen

New Bedford Police said that at about 6 p.m. on August 10, detectives were investigating in the area of Purchase Street, in front of the Pilgrim Soup Kitchen, when a vehicle traveling northbound went down the street at a high rate of speed, despite the posted 30 MPH speed limit.

They said detectives saw the vehicle stop in front of the Salvation Army on Purchase Street and saw the driver, later identified as Cameron Leite, 24, of New Bedford, argue with people outside the Salvation Army.

Suspect Drags New Bedford Police Detective

Detectives approached his vehicle and saw it did not have a front license plate, as required by law. Police said Leite failed to identify himself when asked and would not exit the vehicle. A detective then tried to pull him from the vehicle, and Leite allegedly accelerated northbound down Purchase Street, dragging the detective about 30 feet before he fell to the pavement. Police said the detective sustained minor injuries.

Leite then allegedly drove onto the east sidewalk of Purchase Street, nearly striking four people seated outside the Pilgrim Soup Kitchen.

Multi-Neighborhood High-Speed Pursuit

Detectives got into their cruiser and started pursuing Leite’s vehicle. According to police, he continued through the West End, onto Route 18 northbound, and into the North End, all while traveling at a high rate of speed, refusing to stop for police, and blowing through multiple stop signs.

Arrest Made Following Bank of America Cruiser Crash

Leite then collided with a police cruiser in the area of Acushnet Avenue and Bates Street, causing significant damage. He fled the scene and continued north on Acushnet Avenue and entered the parking lot of the Bank of America, where he crashed into another cruiser. At that point, multiple cruisers boxed him in, bringing him to a stop at the Hadley Street exit.

Police said he refused to obey police orders to exit the vehicle and resisted as officers removed him. During the struggle, he allegedly kicked an officer in the face. Once Leite was taken into custody, he was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for evaluation of a minor injury to his face.

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Officers subsequently learned that his driver’s license was suspended, and that he has three prior guilty convictions for operating a motor vehicle after license suspension within the past five years.

Leite was arrested and charged with reckless operation/operating to endanger, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, failure to stop for police, leaving the scene of property damage, number plate violation, operating with a suspended license, resisting arrest, refusal to identify himself as a motor vehicle operator, operating with a license revoked as a habitual traffic offender, leaving the scene of personal injury, and speeding.