Salem Man Who Rammed Cruisers Gets More Jail Time

Police say that a Salem man accused of ramming three police cruisers and injuring two officers during a pursuit in March will spend three years in prison while his case continues.

Luis Figueroa, 30, was sentenced last month to serve a year in state prison as the new arrest violated the terms of his parole for a Hillsborough County drug sale conviction, according to the Salem Police Department.

Judge Robert Stephen added two years to that sentence June 4 when Figueroa appeared in court and admitted his actions in March violated the terms of his probation for past convictions on reckless conduct, disobeying a police officer and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

Salem Prosecuting Attorney Jason B. Grosky called Figueroa a "menace and threat to the public."

In the March pursuit and crash, one Salem police officer sustained a concussion after Figueroa rammed his cruiser head-on at high speed. Another officer sustained a strained neck, police said.

Three cruisers had nearly $20,000 in damage. Figueroa allegedly crashed into a number of parked vehicles outside the Tiffany Road apartments, as well.

The March pursuit began when a motorist called in an erratic driver on Interstate 93. Police tracked down a vehicle matching the description on Tiffany Road and officers said they found Figueroa passed out behind the wheel, his foot on the brake and the vehicle running.

Salem police said that case is pending grand jury indictment with bail set at $1.5 million cash.