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An Auburn police officer on a routine traffic stop got more than he bargained for when he discovered the driver was wanted on serious assault charges -- and would do whatever it took to avoid deportation to Brazil.
Luis Damasceno, 30, of 212 Arlington St., Framingham, was charged with three counts of assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and other motor vehicle charges, according to Detective Sgt. Jeffrey A. Lourie of the Auburn Police.
"There was a physical altercation with the officers -- he kicked, punched and spit," Lourie said. "There weren't any serious injuries, but the officers were kind of scraped and bruised."
The incident began Sunday night when Auburn Police Officer Daniel A. Lamoreaux stopped Damasceno for speeding on Route 20, near Elm Street, at 10:15 p.m. When Lamoreaux ran the plate, he discovered it was registered to a man wanted on a warrant out of Middlesex Superior Court. The driver, however, presented him with documents with a different name.
"He recognized the documents as false and the driver matched the vehicle's owner," Lourie said. Lamoreaux had received training on detecting false documents back in April.
The warrant said Damasceno was wanted on charges of kidnapping, attempted extortion, assault and battery with a baseball bat, assault and battery with a pool cue, use of assault and battery to collect a loan and simple assault and battery. The warrant indicated he had previously been deported to Brazil.
"This was basically a very simple arrest -- the officer saw the person was providing false information and had cause to arrest based on the warrant," Lourie said. "It wasn't based on illegal immigration issues. It was based on a very serious warrant out of Middlesex Superior Court."
Lamoreaux called for backup, provided by Auburn Officers Spiros Kaperonis and Tod Kuchnicki. Damesceno attempted to escape and fought the officers, Lourie said.
"He knew he had a warrant," Lourie said. "He was going to do whatever it took to avoid arrest."
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