Newton Law Enforcement Related Injury (LERI) NRF005-22ne

On February 11, 2022, around 11:21 p.m., Newton Gang Enforcement Detail (GED) officers were completing a traffic stop when they observed a Silver Jeep Wrangler with tinted windows driving erratically while the driver shouted out something unintelligible. The officers drove towards the vehicle to continue monitoring. The suspect’s vehicle accelerated and quickly became involved in a significant traffic collision with a large flatbed truck.

The suspect’s vehicle then accelerated away from the scene and officers initiated a pursuit for a Hit and Run driver. The officers continued the pursuit until the suspect stopped the vehicle and fled on foot. A short foot pursuit ensued until one officer caught up to the suspect and used body weight to conduct a takedown on a grass lawn. Unbeknownst to any officer, the suspect was holding a ten-month-old infant. The officers were immediately able to pick up the infant and secure him.

The suspect was subsequently taken into custody without further incident. The suspect later identified as Josue Huerta is the infant’s father. At scene the infant appeared calm and uninjured, but he was taken to USCMC for a precautionary evaluation. A CT scan revealed that he had a fractured skull. Doctors advised that the infant was going to be admitted for further examinations and found that he had some swelling in the head which indicated an acute injury. Additionally, it appeared that the infant did not have a brain injury but tested positive for Cocaine and Fentanyl.

Newton Watch Commander notified Force Investigation Division (FID) and an investigative team responded to USCMC for an assessment. Their investigation revealed that doctors could not definitively attribute the injury to the force used during the takedown or to any actions prior to the officer’s contact.

Officers discovered an empty child carrier in the suspect’s vehicle but no base attachment. The carrier was not fastened to any safety harness. Narcotics and two loaded magazines to unknown handguns were recovered. No handguns were found. No officers were injured during this incident.

Force Investigation Division (FID) detectives responded to the scene and are investigating this incident.