NEW BEDFORD — The man accused of stealing the purses of two women in Dartmouth was found to be a danger to the community in court on Tuesday.

Miguel Brasil, 40, of New Bedford, was ordered held without bail as he was deemed a danger to the community by a New Bedford District Court judge. He is scheduled to return to court on May 14th for a pre-trial hearing, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.

According to Dartmouth Police, Brasil robbed two women on Dartmouth Street on April 8 and 9. He was seen fleeing the parking lot of Rite-Aid on April 9 by a Dartmouth Police Officer. Brasil led police on a chase into New Bedford where he crashed into a Dartmouth Police cruiser on Grape Street. Brasil was arrested and then transported to St. Luke's Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the crash.

Brasil has been charged with robbery of a person over 60 years old (two counts), assault and battery on a person over 60 years old (two counts), larceny from a person over 65 years old, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and use of a motor vehicle in a felony/larceny. Dartmouth Police further cited him for failure to stop, operating to endanger, marked lanes violation, illegally attaching plates, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

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