Man Facing Armed Carjacking and Kidnapping Charges Following Multiple Crashes

Wednesday night, a Lawrence man was arrested after carjacking one vehicle while armed with a pick axe and attempting to carjack another vehicle containing two children.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Christopher Pierce and Trooper Joseph Bennett indicates that at about 7:35 p.m. last night, a 2003 Kia Sedona was traveling on Route 495 Southbound in Chelmsford in the left lane when the operator lost control of the vehicle, striking the left side guardrail before crashing into a 2014 Freightliner tractor-trailer, which was traveling in the adjacent lane.

Following that crash, the operator of the Kia, MARCOS GARCIA, 42, of Lawrence, who was shirtless, covered in blood, and holding a pick axe, approached an unidentified elderly couple who had stopped to assist at the scene and attempted to steal their vehicle. The elderly man was able to remove GARCIA from their vehicle, and the couple left the area.

GARCIA then approached an unoccupied Mazda hatchback, pick axe still in hand, and attempted to gain entry, but was unsuccessful as the vehicle was locked. The operator of that vehicle, who was nearby and had also stopped to assist at the crash scene, moved further away from his vehicle, as he feared for his safety. It was later determined that a window in that vehicle had been shattered.

GARCIA then hopped into a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox which was parked at the crash scene, while the owner of that vehicle, a 28-year-old Clinton woman who was outside her vehicle at the time and had also stopped to assist, looked on in fear. GARCIA fled from the crash scene in that stolen vehicle, striking a tow truck on scene in the process. There were no injuries to anyone at this crash scene, with the exception of GARCIA.

A short time later, GARCIA struck two vehicles, a 2011 Nissan Versa and a 2011 Subaru Legacy on Route 495 Southbound in Chelmsford. He then sped away from both crashes. No injuries resulted at this crash scene.

At about 8:15 p.m., Trooper Joseph Bennett, who was responding to a reported crash scene, observed three vehicles pulled over on Route 495 Southbound in Littleton, apparently involved in a crash. Upon arrival, the Trooper determined that one of the vehicles was the recently stolen Chevrolet Equinox.

Trooper Bennett spoke with one of the operators, who reported that GARCIA attempted to steal his BMW from the scene, but was precluded from doing so, as the BMW became lodged on the guardrail following the crash. As Trooper Bennett walked further south to examine the crash scene, he encountered a shirtless GARCIA, who was still covered in blood and proceeding towards the Trooper in an aggressive manner.

Trooper Bennett ordered the man to stop and get down on the ground, but GARCIA continued advancing on the Trooper. Before encountering the Trooper, GARCIA changed direction and moved towards a Toyota Sienna, which was also involved in the crash. While GARCIA attempted to open the driver’s side door, the operator of the Sienna, who was outside the vehicle at the time, alerted the Trooper that her two young children were in the vehicle.

At this point, Trooper Bennett grabbed GARCIA and attempted to pull him away from the vehicle. A struggle ensued and the Trooper was able to push the man away from the vehicle, but GARCIA took up a fighting stance and continued to resist the Troopers commands. At one point, GARCIA lunged towards the Trooper, at which time Trooper Bennett utilized his electronic control weapon in an attempt to take GARCIA into custody. GARCIA continued to violently resist arrest, but was subsequently taken into custody with assistance from three Littleton police officers.

Following his arrest, due to injuries sustained in multiple crashes and because an electronic control weapon was used to subdue GARCIA, he was transported to Emerson Hospital before being transferred to Lahey Hospital in Burlington for treatment.

GARCIA was arraigned today at Lahey Hospital on the following offenses which fall under the jurisdiction of the Ayer District Court:
1. Carjacking (2 Counts)
2. Kidnapping of a child (2 Counts)
3. Resisting Arrest
4. Negligent Operation of a motor vehicle

GARCIA was also issued a criminal summons for the following offenses out of Lowell District Court:
1. Carjacking while armed (2 Counts)
2. Leaving the scene of a property damage crash (4 Counts)
3. Negligent operation of a motor vehicle
4. Larceny a motor vehicle
5. Wanton destruction of property valued over $250