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LEOMINSTER – A Leominster heroin dealer who crashed into a telephone pole while high the day before he was busted in a drug raid in June, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after hitting a Leominster DPW truck a month before.
The following quotations, taken from the printed Narrative of Officer Caulin Salvi of the Leominster Police Department, detail the arrest of Holvin Nieves, 41, of Leominster, following the DPW crash incident.
More on Holvin Nieves:
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On May 31, 2023, Officer Caulin Salvi of the Leominster Police Department responded to the intersection of Pond and Pleasant streets following a report of a vehicle leaving the scene of an accident.
“When I arrived, I spoke with Michael Lambert from the Leominster DPW, who stated that the driver of the other vehicle had left the scene after stating to him that he did not have a license and wanted to go get his grandfather,” said Officer Salvi.
Lambert – who was driving a DPW truck with a trailer attached to it – pointed out the damage to the vehicle, which was largely concentrated on the trailer.
“The left wheel cover had been dented to the extent that it was now pressing on the tire and causing severe rubbing,” Officer Salvi said of the trailer.
Lambert told the officer that he spoke with a resident of 200 Pleasant Street, who said he had footage of the accident.
Officer Salvi went to the individual’s residence and watched the footage, which was taken from the second floor of his home near the intersection.
“On the footage a gray Tundra can be seen rolling up to a stop sign and not slowing,” Officer Salvi explained. “The Tundra rolled into the intersection as the DPW truck was turning on Pond Street, colliding with the trailer it was towing.”
Officer Salvi recognized the plate number of the Toyota Tundra captured by the surveillance footage.
“I recognized the plate number as belonging to a resident of 499 Litchfield Street and requested that dispatch confirm my suspicion,” he said. “I was advised that the truck was registered to Armand Draleau of 499 Litchfield Street.”
Officer Salvi ran the plate and showed an image of Draleau to Lambert.
“Michael stated that Armand was not the driver he had seen and described a short Hispanic male with black hair as being the driver,” Officer Salvi said. “I gave Michael the information he needed for the accident report and made my way to the residence to speak with Armand.”
On his way to Draleau’s residence, Officer Salvi was contacted by Officer Julio Ramos, was already parked outside the residence in an unmarked cruiser. Officer Ramos, who was conducting traffic patrols in the area at the time, noticed that the vehicle involved in the accident had returned to the residence of the registered owner.
“When I arrived at the home, Officer Ramos advised me that a Hispanic male had attempted to leave the home and had seen him in the unmarked cruiser and had gone inside,” said Officer Salvi. “Officer Ramos and I then approached the home and Holvin Nieves came outside to speak with us on the lawn. I recognized Holvin from a previous leaving the scene accident, he was wearing similar clothing to what was seen on the footage.”
Holvin Nieves, 41, of Leominster, is unemployed, married with five dependents, and known to Leominster police as an opioid user and distributor.
When Officer Salvi asked if he had been driving Draleau’s truck, Nieves said “that he was ‘supposed to bring him to the doctor’s [office].’”
Officer Salvi then called dispatch, which confirmed that Holvin’s license was still suspended.
Nieves was arrested and charged with: leaving the scene of property damage and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license (subsequent offense).
According to Officer Salvi, a review of Nieves’ driving record indicated that he had been found guilty for operating after suspension five times in the past. He was also found guilty for operating negligently twice.
Nieves’ bail was set at $2,500. He was arraigned in Leominster District Court on June 21.
Nieves had a pretrial hearing on July 21.
He appeared in court again on Aug. 21.
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