New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The United States Marshals Service (USMS) today announced the arrest of LUIS PRICE-GONZALEZ, 29, and ANDY ESCARFULLER-MEDINA, 22, in Auburn, Maine. PRICE-GONZALEZ was arrested on a warrant for assault and battery with a deadly weapon, negligent operation, leaving the scene of a personal injury crash and other charges in connection with an incident in Revere, Mass., Saturday where he intentionally struck a Massachusetts State Police cruiser and a Trooper who was on foot.
ESCARFULLER-MEDINA was arrested on a Massachusetts warrant for rape of a child and related charges.
Both suspects were being sought by the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (MSP VFAS), which assisted in determining that the fugitives were hiding in Auburn.
PRICE-GONZALEZ allegedly operated the Jeep Grand Cherokee involved in the hit and run on Saturday. Late that afternoon, the suspect, driving the Cherokee, fled the scene of a motor vehicle stop on Route 1A in Revere and turned onto Bellevue Avenue, a dead-end street. The suspect then intentionally struck a marked cruiser in an attempt to get away, and after a Trooper exited his cruiser to make contact with the suspect, the suspect intentionally drove into him before fleeing onto Revere Street. The Trooper was thrown over the hood of the Jeep.
Investigation by MSP indicated that PRICE-GONZALEZ was the driver of the Cherokee, and further, that the vehicle had previously been taken by ESCARFULLER-MEDINA from a family member without permission.
MSP VFAS immediately initiated an investigation into PRICE-GONZALEZ’s whereabouts. VFAS Troopers had already been looking for ESCARFULLER-MEDINA on the unrelated child rape warrant.
Information was developed by MSP VAFAS, Maine State Police and US Marshals that PRICE-GONZALEZ was at a residence in Auburn, Maine. USMS Task Force members arrested him without incident at the residence in a vehicle reported stolen out of Massachusetts. ESCARFULLER-MEDINA was also located at the residence and apprehended by authorities.
PRICE-GONZALEZ was also charged with warrants unrelated to the hit-and-run. Those warrants are for animal cruelty and breaking and entering in the nighttime.
ESCARFULLER-MEDINA was arrested on the warrant charging him with two counts of statutory rape of a child, posing a child in the nude, and distributing material showing a child in a sexual act. He is additionally charged with unrelated warrants for motor vehicle violations and for breaking and entering in the nighttime.
PRICE-GONZALEZ and ESCARFULLER-MEDINA were transported to the Androscoggin County Jail on Fugitive from Justice charges pending rendition to Massachusetts.
The Trooper who was struck in the incident on Saturday was treated for his injuries and is still recovering.
The USMS District of Massachusetts assisted MSP VFAS, Maine State Police, and the USMS District of Maine Apprehension Section and Maine State Police assisted USMS District of Maine Violent Offenders Task Force with this investigation.
The US Marshals Service Maine Violent Offenders Task Force is comprised of US Marshals and members of the Maine State Police, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department, and US Customs and Border Patrol.
