New Bedford Man Arrested in Dartmouth for Stolen Vehicle

DARTMOUTH (1420 WBSM) — A New Bedford man with an alleged history of stealing cars was arrested by Dartmouth Police and charged with receiving a stolen vehicle and other offenses.

According to Dartmouth Police, Officer Andrew Fredette located a stolen vehicle parked at the Moby Dick Motel on Friday, September 23.

Police said the subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Douglas Torchia, 33, of New Bedford on a charge of receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

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He was also charged with receiving stolen property, receiving a stolen credit card, and carrying a dangerous weapon, after police said he was found in possession of a spring-loaded, double-edged blade.

Police said Torchia also had two outstanding warrants for larceny of a motor vehicle.

A September 2009 article in the Spectator reported that a Douglas Torchia, then 20 and living in Fall River, was arrested in Somerset for an alleged carjacking in which the victim claimed to have been “pulled from his vehicle, beaten and shot in the face with a stun gun.”