FALL RIVER — Police investigating the “violent” beating of a 60-year-old man discovered illegal firearms inside two storage units rented by a defendant who authorities allege also had suspected heroin in his apartment, according to court documents.
Anbiorix Torres, 20, of 1A Rolling Green Drive, was arraigned in District Court Thursday on 24 charges, including 14 felony gun offenses, heroin trafficking and assault and battery on a person over the age of 60 causing injury.
Torres and two other defendants were arrested about one week after several motorcyclists allegedly beat up a 60-year-old motorist from Fall River, according to a police report. The assault left the victim with a subdural brain hemorrhage, or bleeding in his brain, that required treatment at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Off-duty Fall River Police Sgt. Steven Burt said he was driving home Tuesday, June 4, when he noticed an apparent crash involving a group of motorcycles and a car near the Brayton Avenue Walmart, according to the report prepared by Officer Matthew Mendes.
Burt said that as he approached, he saw an older man on one knee attempting to stand up while a “group” of motorcyclists punched and kicked him, the police report on file at Fall River District Court states.
Burt stopped his car and attempted to intervene. He said he identified himself as a police officer, then grabbed a motorcyclist who allegedly attempted to flee the scene, according to the report.
A fight broke out among Burt and two motorcyclists, the report states. At one point, Burt said he saw a motorcyclist wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, white sneakers and a red helmet pistol-whip the 60-year-old man.
The victim later told investigators up to six motorcyclists “boxed” him in while he navigated his car on Brayton Avenue en route to Walmart. According to the report, the victim heard a loud thud and saw that a motorcyclist had fallen off a bike before hearing his rear window shatter. The noise prompted him to get out of his car, when a motorcyclist hit his face.
Investigators reviewed cell phone video a witness took of the assault and identified two of the alleged assailants as Angel Luciano, 21, of 364 Tecumseh St., and his “close associate” Torres, according to the report.
Police allege Luciano has “strong ties with several violent street gangs” including the Gangster Disciples, Shotgun Crips and Asian Boyz. The report states that he and Torres recently purchased street bikes, which they allegedly used to transport narcotics.
A third defendant in the assault, Jose Gervacio, 25, was identified by a confidential informant, according to the report. Gervacio’s “facial characteristics share a strong resemblance” to a motorcyclist who Sgt. Burt said pistol-whipped the victim, and police found photos of a motorcycle on Gervacio's social media that appeared to match one at the scene of the assault.
A Major Crimes Division detective reported seeing the defendants visit Affordable Storage at 36 Lawton St., the report states.
A clerk told investigators Torres stored motorcycles in two units he rented there. Security footage reportedly showed Torres and Luciano returning their motorcycles to Affordable Storage after the assault, according to the report.
Police received warrants to search the residences of the three defendants, as well as Torres’ rented storage units. Warrants were also issued for the arrest of Torres, Luciano and Gervacio in connection with the assault.
Police searched the units at about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, and allegedly found an AR-style assault rifle without a serial number, three handguns and five loaded magazines in Torres’ rented storage units, according to the report.
As police finished up their search of the units, Luciano rode his blue and white motorcycle to Affordable Storage and was quickly arrested by police. Gervacio was arrested at his 38 Garfield St. apartment at about 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Police arrested Torres at his apartment at about 1:10 p.m. Wednesday. Investigators allegedly found several bags of suspected heroin in his apartment that weighed a combined 1,162 grams, an amount police said would fetch $110,000 on the street, the report states.
Torres was arraigned on 24 new charges, including assault and battery on a person over 60 and multiple firearm offenses. According to court documents, the 21-year-old’s record includes convictions for possessing ammunition without an FID card and assault with a dangerous weapon.
According to court documents, Luciano was arraigned in District Court Thursday on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery on a person over the age of 60, assault and battery, leaving the scene of property damage and vandalizing property.
Gervacio was arraigned on charges of assault and battery resulting in serious bodily injury, assault and battery on a person over the age of 60, assault with a dangerous weapon on a person over the age of 60, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, leaving the scene of property damage and vandalizing property.
Defense attorneys for the three defendants, who are being held without bail pending dangerousness hearings, did not respond to separate requests for comment.
Gervacio and Torres are due back in court for dangerousness hearings Monday. Luciano is due to go before a judge for his dangerousness hearing Wednesday.