A man accused of running into and dragging a police officer in Massachusetts has been arrested in New Hampshire.
Officials said Hector Rivera was taken into custody without incident Wednesday in Plaistow.
Earlier in the morning, police had identified Rivera as the man suspected of driving a car into Officer Ariel Cruz in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on Tuesday night, seriously injuring him.
Cruz was conducting a traffic stop and had taken the driver of the car into custody for having a revoked license. That’s when Rivera, who has two active warrants, allegedly jumped from the passenger seat into the driver’s seat and started to drive away, police said.
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Investigators said Cruz tried to stop Rivera but was hit and dragged for two blocks.
Cruz was flown to a Boston hospital, where he was in critical but stable condition.
Sources told News 9 Investigates the vehicle believed to have hit Cruz was found in Plaistow hours later.
Cruz joined the Lawrence Police Department in October.
“Anyone who chooses to endanger our residents or attack a police officer should know we will use every available resource to identify them, locate them and bring them into custody,” Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler said in a written statement. “This arrest sends a clear message: Violent acts against our community and officers will not go unanswered, and those responsible will be held fully accountable.”
Lawrence police said several law enforcement agencies, including Plaistow police, Massachusetts State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service, worked together to find and arrest Rivera.
