Multi-town, high-speed chase lands man in jail
Pursuit started in N.S., ended in Pawtucket
NORTH SMITHFIELD — A North Providence man was ordered held on bail at the state prison Tuesday after leading police on a motor vehicle chase all the way from Greenville Road to Pawtucket.
Michael Torres, 37, appeared in Third District Court, Warwick, a day after the pursuit on charges of driving under the influence; refusal to submit to a chemical test; reckless driving; obstructing police; providing a false document to a public official; and forgery.
He entered no plea and was ordered held at the Adult Correctional Institutions on $20,000 bail with surety by Judge Joseph Ippolito. He’s due back in court for another hearing on May 7.
Detective Captain Stephen Riccitelli said the pursuit began after officers tried to stop Torres’ 2008 Chrysler sedan for erratic operation and speeding on Greenville Road on Monday. Torres refused to stop, however, leading police through several towns along Route 146 and I-95 before he stopped in Pawtucket.
The chase reached speeds as high as 65 mph in a 55 mph zone. Officers decided that attempting to apprehend Torres was a better option than terminating the pursuit, mainly because of the threat his erratic driving posed to other motorists, said Riccitelli.
“That’s an area of great concern to law enforcement,” the captain said.
Torres was taken into custody without incident after he pulled over in Pawtucket. At that point, police searched his vehicle and found falsified motor vehicle registration documents – the basis for several of the charges against him.
Torres has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2001 that includes multiple arrests for possession of a controlled substance, domestic assault and eluding police, according to the judiciary’s website.