A man who stole and crashed a Republic Services trash truck near Encore casino in Everett Thursday afternoon was shot by police during the incident and is now in critical condition, according to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan.
Everett resident Admilson Vizcaino is facing charges including armed assault with intent to rob, carjacking and leaving the scene of a car crash involving property damage in connection with the incident, Ryan said during a Thursday evening press conference.
What authorities say happened
The incident began around 12:45 p.m. when Medford police received a report that a person at a Sunoco gas station — who was later identified as Vizcaino — that was “acting erratic,” Ryan said. Viscaino left the gas station in a black Chevrolet SUV before officers arrived.
Medford police asked other local police departments to be on the lookout for the SUV, and soon after, a Stoneham police officer unsuccessfully attempted to pull Vizcaino over, Ryan said. Around 2 p.m., the SUV was spotted at a 7-Eleven in Billerica at which a shoplifting incident had just taken place.
Around 3:15 p.m., Malden police responded to an address after a relative of Vizcaino’s reported that he was there, Ryan said. Officers arrived at the address as Vizcaino was leaving in the SUV. They then began pursuing him, but lost sight of him as he crossed into Everett.
Soon after, Vizcaino crashed the SUV near Encore casino, but kept driving it until it became completely inoperable, Ryan said. He then tried to steal several nearby vehicles — including a moped — but was unsuccessful.
Vizcaino continued down the road until he came to the trash truck, which was stopped at a red light, and tried to force the driver out, Ryan said. By this time, Everett and State Police had caught up to him and began trying to deescalate the situation.
Vizcaino ignored commands from police to get away from the truck, and police tazed him several times as he tried to force his way in, Ryan said. As he was trying to pull the truck door open, an Everett police officer shot at him several times and struck him.
Vizcaino still managed to get the truck door open and struggled with the driver while wielding a knife, Ryan said. The passenger in the truck got out through the passenger side door, and officers were eventually able to get the driver out of the truck safely.
Vizcaino then got into the driver’s seat of the truck and began driving down Broadway, striking utility poles, fire hydrants and a scooter and causing other property damage on the way, Ryan said. State Police troopers soon deployed “stop sticks” to deflate the truck’s tires, and the truck eventually came to rest on the Alford Street Bridge into Boston.
Troopers and police officers from other departments surrounded the truck and arrested Vizcaino as he tumbled out of it, Ryan said. He was taken to a hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Police later searched the SUV and found a gasoline can that Vizcaino had been seen with at the 7-Eleven, Ryan said. Authorities are still investigating what he planned to do with the gasoline, but the district attorney described the presence of the can as being among “very concerning facts.”
What’s next
Vizcaino will be arraigned on the charges at a later date if he recovers from his injuries, Ryan said. The district attorney would not speak to how many people were injured during the incident, if any.
The officer who shot Vizcaino has been put on administrative leave, per Everett police policy, Everett Police Chief Paul Strong said during the press conference.
“It is more likely than not that these officers and troopers saved many lives today during this event,” he said.
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