New Hampshire Man Reversed SUV Into K9 Cruiser: Tewksbury Police

TEWKSBURY, MA — A New Hampshire man assaulted Tewksbury police dog Leo by backing up his SUV into a police cruiser with Leo inside, Tewksbury police said Thursday.

Edwin Figueroa Jr, 20 of Hillsboro, New Hampshire, was charged with assault with a motor vehicle, mistreating/interfering with a police dog, crack cocaine possession and other charges.

According to the police, Sergeant Colin Trelegan was patroling with Leo at 2:44 a.m. Thursday. Trelegan approached a white SUV that was parked in the Lowell Five Bank side parking lot in the area of Andover Street and Interstate 495.

The vehicle, occupied by Figueroa Jr., was the only one in the parking lot, police said.

When Trelegan got out of the police car and approached the SUV, Figueroa Jr. reversed into the cruiser and fled the scene.

Neither Trelegan nor Leo was injured in the incident.

A video of the incident is available here.

The vehicle was found nearby on the side of Andover Street. State police and other Tewksbury police officers soon found Figueroa Jr. walking on Andover Street and arrested him.

Roughly 12 grams of crack cocaine were found in the SUV, police said. Police also learned the vehicle was stolen, they said.

Figueroa Jr. was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (motor vehicle), vandalizing property, possession of crack cocaine, negligent driving, leaving the scene of property damage, resisting arrest, mistreating/interfering with a police dog, driving with a suspended license, marked lanes violation, receiving stolen motor vehicle and use of a motor vehicle without authority

He was due to be arraigned in Lowell District Court.

All people are considered innocent until proven guilty.