Police: Dartmouth Purse-Snatcher Strikes Again, Crashes into Cruiser [VIDEO]

DARTMOUTH — The suspect in a purse-snatching in Dartmouth on Monday is in custody after police say he committed the same crime and then crashed his vehicle into a police cruiser.

Dartmouth Police Department spokesman Detective Kyle Costa says Miguel Brasil, 40, of no certain address, was identified as the suspect in a purse-snatching at a bank parking lot on Dartmouth Street on Monday morning. A 76-year-old woman received minor injuries in the unarmed robbery and assault. Police say they identified Brasil through collaborative efforts with the public. Brasil had allegedly driven away from the scene in a silver 2003 Toyota Corolla.

Det. Costa says at approximately 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Brasil again committed a purse-snatching, this time at the Rite-Aid on Dartmouth Street. An off-duty Dartmouth Police officer was nearby and witnessed the crime and reported it to on-duty officers.

Brasil allegedly tried to flee the scene, but was soon the subject of a police pursuit involving officers from the Dartmouth and New Bedford Police Departments. Police say Brasil was driving at a high rate of speed and was illegally passing vehicles in an attempt to evade capture.

Det. Costa says the pursuit ended when Brasil crashed his vehicle into a Dartmouth Police cruiser on Grape Street near Winter Street in New Bedford. He was placed under arrest at the scene.

Brasil is expected to face charges of unarmed robbery in connection to both alleged crimes in addition to other charges.

“This is an outstanding example of this department’s commitment to making sure that this rogue and dangerous individual was quickly taken off the street for the egregious crimes that he committed," said Dartmouth Police Chief Brian Levesque. "I would also like to thank the public for their assistance in helping us identify Brasil yesterday. Because of their help, my detectives were able to secure an arrest warrant by this morning, and quickly disseminate information about Brasil to both law enforcement agencies and the public alike.”