MATTAPAN, Mass.- A 26-year-old Taunton man was arrested in Mattapan after allegedly attempting to flee a traffic stop, nearly striking officers with his vehicle and crashing into a police vehicle before officers took him into custody.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, 2026, near 10 Hosmer Street. Officers had stopped the vehicle after observing the driver using a cellphone while driving in the area of Blue Hill Avenue and Clarkwood Street.
A check of the driver and vehicle showed that the driver, identified as Hericles De Pina, had an active warrant from Salem, New Hampshire.
When officers informed De Pina about the warrant and ordered him to exit the vehicle, he allegedly refused. He then shifted the vehicle into drive and attempted to flee.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle as it accelerated and swerved, nearly striking them. The vehicle drove onto the sidewalk and was unable to continue forward. De Pina then shifted into reverse and accelerated toward the officers before the vehicle stopped after colliding with a police vehicle.
Officers removed De Pina from the vehicle and attempted to take him into custody. Police said he resisted by holding his right hand against his waistband, where officers believed he was concealing an object.
Officers eventually gained control of De Pina and seized a firearm from his waistband. The firearm was identified as a 9mm Polymer 80 handgun loaded with three rounds of ammunition.
De Pina is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges including carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, assault by means of a dangerous weapon, failure to stop for police and fugitive from justice. He was also issued a Massachusetts uniform citation for motor vehicle violations.
