R.I. man arrested after crash that injured Salem police officer

A Rhode Island man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly struck and injured a Salem police officer with his vehicle and fled the scene.

Lucas David Fulcar-Bautista, 33, of Coventry, R.I., was arraigned in Salem District Court on charges of trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, disorderly conduct, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, and failure to stop for police, Salem police said in a statement.

At about 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 15, the officer was conducting a narcotics investigation near 12 Pope St., according to police. Fulcar-Bautista allegedly drove over a curb and onto a sidewalk, striking the officer and causing him to be thrown onto the hood of the vehicle before falling to the ground.

A second officer took evasive action to avoid being struck, and Fulcar-Bautista fled the scene, police said. The injured officer was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and released early the following morning.

After the incident, Salem police “immediately mounted an extensive multi-state search” with help from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Fulcar-Bautista was eventually arrested Wednesday in Lawrence, according to Salem police.

Fulcar-Bautista pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered held without bail, according to a statement from the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. He is scheduled to return to court Jan. 26 for a dangerousness hearing.

Salem Police Chief Lucas Miller thanked the community for their “support and concern for our injured officer that flooded the department through calls, emails, and other messages.”

“We pride ourselves in looking out for the wellbeing of our community,” Miller said in the statement. “It is immensely gratifying to know that members of the community feel the same about their police officers.”