LITTLETON — Littleton Police Chief Matthew Pinard and Groton Police Chief Michael Luth report that a federal fugitive being sought for suspicious activity in both communities was apprehended Monday in Leominster.
On Monday, Dec. 9, Groton Police were made aware of an incident the previous day in which a suspicious man allegedly attempted to lure a female juvenile into his car on Duck Pond Drive.
Through a subsequent investigation, Littleton and Groton Police determined that a similar incident involving a suspect matching the same description had occurred approximately two weeks prior in Littleton.
As both agencies’ investigations continued in a collaborative manner, detectives identified JORGE LUIS AYALA-MERCADO, AGE 26, OF LAKELAND, FLORIDA, as the suspect in the Littleton incident, and also determined that he was being actively sought by the U.S. Marshal Service on a federal fugitive warrant for firearms violations in Florida.
Investigators determined that AYALA-MERCADO could likely be located, and ultimately was found in Leominster, where he was taken into custody and transported to federal court in Boston.
“This a great example of law enforcement agencies working together to locate and arrest a violent and potentially dangerous fugitive,” Chief Pinard said. “I’m grateful for the support of our partners with the Groton and Leominster Police Departments, Massachusetts State Police and the U.S. Marshal Service.”
The Littleton Police Department is continuing to investigate the suspicious activity in its community, but no charges are pending at this time.
“The apprehension of this suspect would not have been possible without the joint efforts of so many agencies and investigators,” Chief Luth added. “It took a tremendous amount of work to identify this suspect and then locate him and arrest him, preventing him from potentially targeting more innocent members of our communities.”
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
