Suspect is shot and arrested in Lynn after chase, crash

By Travis Andersen, Globe Staff

LYNN — A Dorchester man led police on a wild car chase on Wednesday afternoon, striking a state trooper and four vehicles and then stealing a minivan ­before another trooper shot him in the arm, authorities and witnesses said.

David Procopio, a State ­Police spokesman, said a trooper saw the suspect, identified as Luis Rosario, 26, engaged in what appeared to be drug activity on Commercial Street near the Lynnway at about 3:30 p.m.

When the trooper ­approached Rosario’s sport utility vehicle, Rosario drove at the trooper, knocking him to the ground, Procopio said.

State and Lynn police gave chase down several streets, and Rosario struck two cruisers before hitting two civilian vehicles near the intersection of Franklin and Boston streets, the State Police spokesman said.

Procopio said Rosario fled his vehicle, which had lost its rear left tire, and got into a mini­van that another man had exited to check on a woman who had been in one of the cars that Rosario struck.

Troopers could not get ­Rosario out of the minivan, and one trooper shot him in the arm during the confrontation, ­Procopio said.

Despite being shot, Rosario drove the stolen van about a mile down the road and backed it into a driveway on Atkinson Street, State Police said.

Procopio said Rosario got out of the van, and Lynn police caught him around the corner on Cliff Street.

Procopio said the shooting is under investigation, and that the trooper who fired at Rosario was believed to be in fear of his safety.

Rosario’s Hyundai Santa Fe was near the Franklin and Boston intersection hours after the chase.

David Woodworth, 49, the driver of the van that Rosario allegedly took, said at the scene that the woman whose car was struck appeared dazed.

“While I was over there with her . . . this guy took my car,” Woodworth said, later adding, “I want my . . . car back.”

Peter Pedro of Lynn said ­Rosario almost rammed him near the Franklin and Boston intersection before he struck the other vehicles. “Next thing you know, all you heard was ­sirens and state troopers,” he said.

Procopio said Rosario was under police guard Wednesday night at Salem Hospital, where he was being treated for injuries not believed to be life-threatening. He is facing several charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon and drug violations, Procopio said.