A Taunton man is facing more than 20 charges after leading police on a car chase through four Massachusetts communities Monday night.
Luis Melo, 33, is being charged by Raynham police with failure to stop by police, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, assault with a dangerous weapon, failure to stop/yield, violation of marked lanes, operating a vehicle motorized with a suspended license, animal cruelty and receiving stolen property in excess of $1,200.
Middleborough Police also charge him with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, speeding, failing to stop/yield, a marked lane violation, and a driving violation. passed.
Taunton Police are charging him with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, marked lane violation, failing to stop/yield, speeding, operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident causing damage to property, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to stop for police. He also has active warrants for his arrest from the Fall River and Wrentham district courts.
Raynham police also arrested Crystal Metta, 30, of Middleborough, on a single count of receiving stolen property in excess of $1,200. She also has active warrants for her arrest from the Taunton, Wareham and Attleboro district courts.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Monday. Shortly after 6:30 p.m., Middleborough police said they located a white Infiniti that had been reported stolen in Westport in the East Main Street area. The officers activated their patrol car’s emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle sped off.
Officers began pursuing the vehicle, which was later determined to be driven by Melo, and saw it stop briefly to pick up a passenger in the East Main Street area before fleeing from police again.
Police pursued Melo on Route 44 for a short time before ending the pursuit when it turned onto Route 58. Melo briefly entered Carver before returning to Middleborough. At this time, police deployed a tire deflation device on Plymouth Street, which deflated the vehicle’s left rear tyre.
Melo continued to drive without the rear tire causing the vehicle to swerve off the road. Middleborough Police once again ended their manhunt for safety reasons. Melo then began traveling to Raynham on Route 44.
Once in Raynham, police tried again to use a tire deflator device to stop the car on Route 44, but were unsuccessful. Melo then continued to drive on Route 44 as Ryanham police continued to pursue him. A third attempt to use a tire deflation device was also unsuccessful.
The pursuit continued into Taunton on Route 44, where Melo allegedly struck a Taunton police cruiser before re-entering Raynham on Route 138. While traveling on Route 138, Melo allegedly intentionally struck a Taunton police cruiser. Raynham, which then had to be towed from the scene.
At that point, police were finally able to apprehend Melo and her passenger, later identified as Metta, in the Taco Bell parking lot in Raynham.
During a search of the stolen vehicle, police found a small French bulldog inside. The dog was taken to the Lakeville Animal Shelter for further evaluation. It is not believed to belong to any of the suspects.
No details were released about Melo and Metta’s bail or court dates.
