Falmouth Man Allegedly Drove the Wrong Way Over the Bourne Bridge to Escape State Police

FALMOUTH (WBSM) — A Falmouth man has been ordered held without bail after leading police on a motor vehicle pursuit over the Bourne Bridge.

Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois announced today that Armando Deleon, 74, of Falmouth was arraigned in Falmouth District Court on multiple charges stemming from a police pursuit that began on Thursday, July 2.

He was determined to be dangerous and ordered held without bail. He will return to court on August 5 for a pretrial hearing.

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Near-Miss With Emergency Personnel

The D.A.’s Office said Massachusetts State Police were responding to a medical emergency on Route 25 eastbound in Bourne when a dark-colored sedan moved abruptly from the middle lane into the right lane. The D.A.’s Office said it allegedly “came dangerously close to striking a state trooper, two EMS personnel and a patient who was on a stretcher in the breakdown lane before continuing eastbound in the breakdown lane.”

A state trooper attempted to stop the vehicle near the Bourne Bridge and, in heavy traffic, continued the pursuit until around mile marker 10."At that point, the trooper requested additional assistance, and the D.A.’s Office said “traffic backed up for approximately three miles forced the vehicle to stop near the apex of the Bourne Bridge.”

Wrong-Way Driving Over the Bourne Bridge

Troopers approached the vehicle and ordered the driver to exit, when he allegedly accelerated and struck troopers before continuing eastbound. The vehicle then traveled the wrong way over the Bourne Bridge and into the Bourne rotary. Troopers continued the pursuit as the vehicle allegedly weaved through traffic reaching speeds of 105 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. Troopers called off the pursuit due to safety concerns for other motorists.

Stand-Off and Arrest at Falmouth Residence

During the chase, troopers identified the driver as Deleon. State Police and Falmouth Police responded to his residence, where authorities said they attempted to persuade him to surrender, but he instead barricaded himself inside the home. Law enforcement officers had to enter the home and take him into custody.

Charges Against Armando Deleon

Deleon was arraigned today on charges including willfully obstructing an emergency vehicle, speeding, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, marked lanes violation, breakdown lane violation, leaving the scene of personal injury, failure to slow, resisting arrest, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, possession of a Class B drug, and disorderly conduct.