The man arrested Thursday morning for initiating a police chase on a traffic-snarled Bourne Bridge ahead of Independence Day weekend and dragging a pursuing State Police trooper in the process is an illegal immigrant from Panama with a lengthy criminal history in Massachusetts, including violent run-ins with law enforcement, court records show.
Court records obtained by the Herald indicate that Armando Rogelio Deleon, 74, of East Falmouth, has been arrested for flurry of alleged crimes, including drug possession, driving with a suspended license, assault on a police officer and more, and has been released from custody repeatedly by Massachusetts judges.
Deleon was arrested in East Falmouth following a high-speed pursuit on the southbound side Route 28 after he had allegedly dragged the trooper in the original altercation at the Bourne Bridge. All available police units in East Falmouth responded to search for and intercept Deleon as he entered the town. Deleon then allegedly committed a hit-and-run in the town before nearly striking multiple police detail officers working on Brick Kiln Road, Falmouth Police say.
A Massachusetts State Police incident report dated July 3 and also obtained by the Herald, shows Deleon faces numerous criminal charges for last Thursday’s incident, including resisting arrest, failure to stop for police, assault and battery on a police officer, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, obstructing an emergency vehicle, leaving the scene of personal injury, driving with a suspended license and numerous civil motor vehicle infractions.
Court records show Deleon has a lengthy and violent criminal history and has been released from custody early by state judges on numerous occasions.
Deleon was arrested on similar charges just a few months earlier, on March 26, for driving with a suspended license, resisting arrest, and speeding, along with another count of drug possession, according to records. He was released from custody and awaiting court proceedings for those charges when he allegedly carried out the Thursday police chase.
Last summer, in June of 2025, Deleon was again arrested for OUI, driving with a suspended license, assault and battery on a police officer. He was released on personal recognizance by Taunton District Court Judge Daniel Hourihan in August of that year.
In June of 2022, Waltham District Court Judge Sharon Lalli released Deleon early and dismissed a case against him out of Watertown for allegedly driving with a suspended license and resisting arrest in early-April of that year. In the section of the criminal docket labeled “disposition method,” Judge Lalli checked off a box labeled “Admission to Sufficient Facts accepted after colloquy and alien warning pursuant to C278§29D and MRCiP12,” indicating that Deleon’s admission could subject him to apprehension by immigration officials.
Months earlier, in January 2022, Deleon was arrested on two counts of assault and battery on a disabled person over the age of 60, witness intimidation, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. In April of that year, then-First Justice of Waltham District Court Sarah Wayland Ellis signed off on Deleon’s early release and even dismissed the shocking and violent charges against him.
Weeks after being released on those charges, Deleon was arrested again on May 15 on OUI drugs, assault, driving with a suspended license and other charges in Quincy. He was originally held on $5,000 bail, but was taken back into custody after violating his conditions of release.
Prosecutors had only recommended a sentence of 6 months in the House of Correction, two years of anger management, and drug screening. Ultimately, Quincy District Court Judge Mark Coven sentenced Deleon to a year of probation for the assault, OUI and malicious property damage charges. Judge Coven then dismissed charges against Deleon for reckless driving, failure to stop for police and driving with a suspended license.
Deleon also has several more criminal cases across the state – including one in Brockton District Court, one each in Boston Municipal Court Central and Brighton districts, and two cases in Boston Municipal Court in Roxbury.
Deleon is currently being held without bail at the Bristol County House of Corrections for his latest run-in with law enforcement. His next court date is scheduled for July 14.