Fight Leads to Arrest of Fall River Man for Armed Robbery

FALL RIVER — A fight call leads Fall River Police to arrest a city man for breaking into vehicles and armed robbery.

Monday at approximately 11 p.m., Fall River Police responded to the area of 322 Hope Street for a report of a disturbance involving a fight. Officers Tommy Roberts, Guy Furtado and Paul Furtado responded. Further information obtained from witnesses who called police stated that a male in a blue sweatshirt was caught breaking into vehicles.

At the scene, they detained 34-year-old Joseph Almeida. Almeida was being held against a fence by a witness, who stated he had seen Almeida break a parked vehicle's window and was rummaging through it. When confronted by the witness, Almeida attempted to flee but was stopped just as police arrived. Almeida was also observed earlier, swinging a large bag of trash and smashing it off another nearby vehicle, causing damage to it. Upon being detained, police observed Almeida to be matching the description of the individual described by callers.

While investigating this incident, an armed robbery was reported nearby at the intersection of Mulberry and Columbia Streets. Officer Roberts spoke with the victim in that incident, who stated that a male in a blue sweatshirt, jeans, and baseball cap had robbed him at knife point. A struggle ensued between the victim and suspect. The victim then ran to a nearby neighbor for help. The suspect was still standing in the roadway at which time the neighbor saw the suspect and yelled "Oh my god Joey! What did you do!" The neighbor recognized the suspect from the area as Joseph Almeida.

The victim and neighbor who witnessed the robbery was presented a photo array, and ultimately identified and further confirmed Almeida as the suspect.

Almeida, of 47 Mulberry Street, Third Floor in Fall River, was booked and charged with two counts of breaking and entering into a vehicle in the nighttime to commit a felony, and armed robbery.

--Fall River Police