Lowell Man Arrested In Tewksbury Struck Cop, Had Fentanyl: Police

TEWKSBURY, MA — A Lowell man was arrested Thursday in Tewksbury and is accused of shoplifting, assaulting a police officer and being in possession of fentanyl, the Tewksbury Police Department said.

Angel Luis Perez Rosario, 35, was charged with possession of a Class A drug (fentanyl), larceny under $1,200, possession of a Class E drug (Xanax), resisting arrest, assault and battery of a police officer and having a previous warrant out for his arrest.

Perez Rosario was taken to the Tewksbury Police Station after his arrest, and he appeared in Lowell District Court on Friday. He was released on $500 cash bail, authorities said.

According to police reports, at approximately 8:05 p.m. Thursday, the Tewksbury PD received reports from an employee at Marshalls, located at 10 Main St., that an individual was allegedly attempting to shoplift from the store.

At the scene, officers spoke to witnesses who said they saw the man, later identified as Perez Rosario, putting on merchandise, filling up a shopping cart and attempting to leave the store without paying, the department said.

The Tewksbury PD said its officers observed Perez Rosario trying to exit the store wearing the stolen merchandise.

While officers were attempting to speak to Perez Rosario, the suspect allegedly fled the scene on foot, according to police.

Officers pursued Perez Rosario on foot. At one point, the suspect struck one of the officers in the chest, the Tewksbury PD said.

The department said several of its officers eventually were able to bring Perez Rosario into custody.

According to the Tewksbury PD, the officer who was struck by Perez Rosario was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for a broken rib.

After Perez Rosario was arrested, Tewksbury police said officers conducted a search of the suspect, which turned up a small plastic bag that later was determined to be fentanyl.

Additionally, police said they found that Perez Rosario was in possession of Xanax pills, for which he did not have a prescription.

Later, at the Tewksbury Police Station, the department also determined that Perez Rosario had a warrant out for his arrest through the Lowell District Court.