Prisoner Escapes Due to Defective Transport Van on I-95
In a shocking turn of events, a prisoner managed to escape from a transport van due to a defective vehicle on Interstate 95 in Waltham. The incident occurred on Monday, prompting a massive search operation before the escapee was eventually apprehended. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department has placed the blame squarely on the malfunctioning transport van, which allowed the prisoner to break free.
The escapee has been identified as Victor De Moura-Pereira, a 20-year-old resident of Framingham. He had been initially arrested by the Framingham Police on Sunday for multiple counts of assault and battery on a police officer. Moura-Pereira was being transferred to the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as he is currently subject to a detainer placed on him by that agency.
According to Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald, Moura-Pereira was able to manipulate the partition in the transport van, enabling him to squeeze himself out of the passenger compartment and into the rear of the vehicle. From there, he pulled an emergency cable to open the back door, making his daring escape onto the busy I-95.
The swift action of law enforcement was commendable in response to this incident. State police were immediately contacted by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, and they deployed numerous assets, including patrols and their Air Wing, to locate and apprehend the fugitive. After an intense search, Moura-Pereira was successfully taken into custody in the area of Second Avenue in Waltham.
Eyewitnesses recount a chilling encounter with the escapee during their search efforts. A witness who was fixing his car in the vicinity reported being approached by Moura-Pereira, who asked for assistance and even requested a cigarette. When the witness declined and promptly called 911, it further aided in the fugitive’s capture.
As of now, no additional information is available regarding this incident. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are likely to conduct a thorough examination of the transport van to determine the extent of the defect that allowed such an escape to occur.
This incident highlights the importance of maintaining and regularly inspecting prisoner transport vehicles to ensure their security. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department will undoubtedly review their protocols and procedures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
