Massachusetts State Troopers arrest two for weapons and other offenses; trooper injured when cruiser struck

A response to a crash overnight in Medford led to arrests of the car’s occupants for illegal possession of a rifle and other crimes and resulted in injuries to the first-responding Trooper after his cruiser was hit by an SUV while on scene.

At approximately 1:20 a.m., a Trooper on patrol out of the State Police-Medford Barracks responded to a report of an erratic driver who had crashed into the median on Route 93 northbound near Exit 33 in Medford. The crashed vehicle was a white 2013 Toyota Corolla with two male occupants.

While the Trooper was about to exit his cruiser to check on the occupants of the Corolla, the cruiser was struck from behind by a white 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan sport utility vehicle operated by a 28-year-old Haverhill man. The impact of the crash pushed the cruiser into the Corolla in front of it.

The Trooper, whose name is not being released, suffered upper body injuries and was transported by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was treated and released at about 5:25 a.m.

Meanwhile, Troopers Jorell Berberena and Harold Sousa responded to assist in the moments after the cruiser was struck. The investigation into the Corolla that had crashed — and which had been reported by a witness as having been operated erratically prior to its crashing – resulted in the arrest of both occupants.

When Troopers approached the Corolla they observed an odor of alcohol emanating from the car and from both occupants. The driver additionally showed physiological signs of alcohol impairment, and was given several field sobriety tests, leading to the determination that he was impaired.

During an inventory search of the Corolla, Troopers located a plastic bag containing 126 Xanax pill and 12 additional pills shaped like mushrooms, four-leaf clovers, and sea shells. The bag was sticking out of the pocket of a pair of jeans behind the passenger seat that belonged to the passenger. In a second plastic bag, Troopers located approximately 3.5 grams of a substance believed to be marijuana.

Troopers also located in the vehicle a black backpack that contained a Kel-Tec Sub-2000 collapsible rifle, three large capacity magazines, 33 nine-millimeter rounds and 12 .40-caliber rounds. The serial number of the rifle had been scratched off. Neither occupant of the Corolla are old enough to be eligible for a license to carry to a firearm in Massachusetts (both are 18).

The driver of the Corolla, ABRAHAM ESTRADA, 18, of Lawrence, and the passenger, GERALDO COSTA MARIANO Jr., 18, of Framingham, were both charged with the following offenses:

1. Illegal possession of a large capacity weapon;
2. Illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device (3 counts);
3. Possession of a firearm without a Firearm Identification Card;
4. Possession of ammunition without a Firearm Identification Card; and
5. Possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.

Troopers also charged the driver, ESTRADA, who holds a learner’s permit but not a driver’s license, with the following offenses:

1. Operating under the influence of liquor;
2. Negligent operation of a motor vehicle; and
3. Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Troopers additionally charged the passenger, COSTA MARIANO (who is not old enough to legally possess marijuana in Massachusetts) with the following offenses:

1. Possession of a Class E narcotic; and
2. Possession of a Class D narcotic.

Both defendants were booked at the Medford Barracks and were expected to be arraigned today in Somerville District Court.

Additionally, Sergeant Robert Navas conducted an investigation of the 28-year-old Haverhill motorist who struck the cruiser. As a result of that investigation, that driver was cited for a move over violation. That driver was not injured.