Overview
- Police stopped a car in Lawrence on Tuesday night and removed the driver for a revoked license when the passenger jumped into the driver’s seat and attempted to flee.
- Officer Ariel Cruz became entangled with the vehicle and was dragged about two blocks before separating from the car and being airlifted to a Boston hospital in critical but stable condition.
- Authorities identified the passenger as Hector Rivera, 34 of Plaistow, New Hampshire, and arrested him without incident in Plaistow the following day after a multi-agency operation.
- Rivera faces multiple felony counts, including Assault with Intent to Murder, Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Failure to Stop for Police, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Resisting Arrest, and extradition to Massachusetts is pending.
- The vehicle was recovered unoccupied, the investigation remains active, and law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, Plaistow police, and Lawrence police continue to coordinate the case.