Known Gang Member Flees From Cop, Crashes, Gets Slew Of Charges: Worcester Police

WORCESTER, MA—

Shortly after noon on Wednesday, Oct. 18, a Gang Unit officer was in his unmarked police car on Windsor Street heading toward Sturgis Street when he saw a construction vehicle with traffic cones around it blocking a part of the road. As he veered around the obstruction, a car came up behind him that was speeding, and didn't slow down or stop as the cars got closer. At this time the officer looked at the driver and recognized him to be Bryan Chavez, 23, Massasoit Road.

The officer is familiar with Chavez as he is a known member of a local gang, said police, and that he didn't have an active driver's license. Chavez ignored the officer's motion to pull over and took off, driving recklessly down the street. The officer decided not to pursue him, and then saw Chavez lose control and hit a parked car. The force of impact sent the parked vehicle into another vehicle that was parked in front of it.

Chavez’s vehicle struck the car and flip up and onto its roof where it came to rest, and when it did, Chavez got out and ran away. The officer was about to chase Chavez on foot but then observed a passenger in Chavez’s vehicle screaming in pain and another person inside the parked vehicle that was just hit.

The passenger in Chavez’s vehicle was identified as a 25-year-old local man, and appeared to have broken bones. The person in the parked vehicle was identified as a 61-year-old female. The female appeared shaken and was suffering from neck and back pain, said police.

While EMS treated the injured, officers searched for Chavez.

A work crew stationed nearby approached the officers and said that they located Chavez and convinced him to come out of hiding and meet up with the officers at the crash scene. Chavez did make it back to the area and was placed under arrest. Chavez stated that he was also injured in the crash.

Chavez was treated at the scene by emergency personnel, said police. All three people were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The female was treated for minor injuries and then released. The passenger in Chavez’s vehicle was taken into emergency surgery. His exact condition is unknown at this time but he is believed to have non-life threatening injuries. Chavez was treated for his injuries and then released to police custody. Mr. Chavez was then transported back to police headquarters for processing.

Chavez was charged with Speeding, Operating a MV with a Suspended License, Operating a MV with a Suspended Registration, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Personal Injury, Operating a MV Recklessly so as to Endanger and Failure to Stop for a Police Officer.

Chavez will be arraigned at the Worcester County District Courthouse on Thursday.

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