Fall River Police Arrest Bikers Who Allegedly Assaulted 60-Year-Old Man

FALL RIVER — Fall River Police have arrested three men in connection with an incident earlier this month in which a 60-year-old man and an off-duty police officer were assaulted.

On June 4, 2019, at approximately 8 p.m., off-duty Sgt. Steven R. Burt reported as he was on his way home when he observed a group of motorcycles and a car at the entrance to Wal-Mart on Brayton Avenue. One of the motorcycles was lying on the ground and it appeared to be a motor vehicle accident. Sgt. Burt then exited his vehicle to see if there were any injuries. As he was walking towards the group, he saw an older male on one knee attempting to stand up. The group of motorcycle riders surrounded the male while kicking and punching him from all sides. Sgt. Burt then ran over to the males to stop the assault. Sgt. Burt identified himself as a police officer; however, the males continued the assault.

One of the motorcycle riders then attempted to flee on a white motorcycle. Sgt. Burt yelled for the rider to stop, but he refused. Sgt. Burt then grabbed the male attempting to flee, knocking him and the motorcycle to the ground. A fight ensued between the male and Sgt. Burt. Another unidentified male then jumped in and began punching and kicking Sgt. Burt in the leg, face, and ribs. As Sgt. Burt was engaged with the two unidentified males, he noticed another male running towards the 60-year-old male. At that time, the male reached towards his waistband with his right hand and retrieved a firearm. The male with the firearm then began pistol-whipping the victim in the head. The firearm he brandished was described as a four or five-inch 1911-style pistol, black, with light colored wooden grips and a silver barrel.

The unidentified male with the firearm then returned the firearm into his waistband. Sgt. Burt was able to disengage from the two males and began to head in the direction of the male with the firearm in an attempt to confront him. The unidentified male raised his arms to his sides as if he was challenging Sgt. Burt. At that time, all the males got on their motorcycles and fled from the area. As the males began to flee, Sgt. Burt began to take photographs of the riders and motorcycles. The victim also left the area.

Over the next several days, Special Operations Division Officers Matt Mendes, Jose Dapedra, Greg Homen, Frank Andrade, and John Ruggiero with assistance from Major Crimes Division Detectives began a canvass of the area to locate the victim, witnesses, video, and other evidence to help identify the suspects and victim. As the investigation progressed, the victim was located and interviewed. The victim reported he was diagnosed at a Boston hospital with a subdural brain hemorrhage.

Cell phone, surveillance, and social media videos were located, reviewed, and as a result, two of the alleged assailants were identified as Angel Luciano, 21, of 364 Tecumseh Street, and his "close associate" Anbiorix Torres, 20, of 1A Rolling Green Drive, both Fall River. Luciano has "strong ties with several violent street gangs" including the Gangster Disciples, Shotgun Crips, and Asian Boyz.

Investigators learned that Luciano and Torres recently purchased street bikes to transport narcotics. Investigators also learned that Torres stored the motorcycles at a storage facility on Lawton Street. Investigators obtained video, time-stamped shortly after the assault, showing the motorcycle operators without helmets apparently celebrating and re-enacting the assault. A confidential informant came forward and produced the name of Jose Luis Gervacio, 25, of 38 Garfield Street in Fall River as the third individual involved in the assault.

After this lengthy investigation which lasted over a week, Officer Mendes asked for and received search and arrest warrants for Torres, Luciano, and Gervacio and their properties. These warrants were executed simultaneously on June 13, 2019.

During the execution of the warrants for Anbiorix Torres, Torres was located and taken into custody at his residence. There, 1,162 grams of suspected heroin (street value of $110,000), a 9mm pistol, and ammunition were seized. A search warrant was executed at the storage facility. Seized were two loaded pistols (a .32 caliber and a 9mm), a loaded .223 caliber short barrel assault rifle, the motorcycle and helmet.

Torres is charged with assault and battery on a person over 60/disabled with injury, assault and battery on a police officer, leaving the scene of property damage, vandalizing property, trafficking in heroin/morphine/opium 200 grams or more, and 18 firearms-related charges.

Angel Luciano was taken into custody without incident upon his arrival at the storage facility on his motorcycle. His motorcycle and helmet were seized. Luciano is charged with assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery on a person over 60/disabled with injury, vandalizing property and leaving the scene of property damage.

Jose Luis Gervacio was taken into custody without incident upon his arrival at his residence. A search warrant was executed and his motorcycle was seized from a shed in the rear yard. Gervacio is charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60, assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery on a person over 60/disabled with injury, assault and battery with serious bodily injury, vandalizing property and leaving the scene of property damage.

This is still an open investigation.

-- Fall River Police