The man who escaped police custody for nearly a full day over the weekend when he snuck away from a medical procedure at UMass Marlborough Hospital faced a judge on Monday, and new details on the accusations against him were revealed in court.
Isaac Rivera was first arrested, prosecutors said in Marlborough District Court, when he tried to strangle and suffocate his mother at her apartment on Ames Street Saturday because the 24-year-old didn't like her new boyfriend. He allegedly also assaulted officers and was taken into custody, later complaining of chest pains.
But after Rivera was taken to UMass Marlborough Hospital, he escaped about 9 p.m. while preparing for a medical procedure, police said. He wasn't found until Sunday afternoon.
On Monday, Rivera was arraigned on 23 different counts of charges related to assault and battery as well as gun and drug possession. A not guilty plea was entered on behalf and he was ordered held without bail until at least Friday, when he's due back for a dangerousness hearing.
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Isaac Rivera's escape
An ordinary Sunday at UMass Marlborough Hospital became anything but, after authorities said what was supposed to be a medical procedure turned into a search for a man who escaped police custody.
Rivera was taken back into custody, but not without hours of searching. According to police, Rivera left the hospital in his gown and yellow socks — and somehow managed to make it down to Milford.
Rivera was in police custody on several charges, including domestic assault and battery, strangulation, assault and battery on a police officer and illegal possession of a firearm.
He has ties to several Massachusetts communities, including Ashland, Natick, Lowell and Milford — the town he was eventually found in.
Milford officers said they started their operation around 4 p.m. by checking out a couple of homes — including one on West Fountain Street that police believed to be Rivera's girlfriend's house, where he surrendered peacefully.
“It was a person that was considered, armed and dangerous," Kevin O'Loughlin with Milford police said. "It was a person that is a threat to the community. We were able to take him back into custody and in a safe manner so that’s the most important thing that nobody was hurt and he is back in custody where he should be."
Rivera was returned to Marlborough, where police have not said why he was undergoing a medical procedure, how he escaped from custody, or how he made it from the hospital all the way to Milford.
It's also unclear if he will face any additional charges for Sunday's alleged escape.
New details about Rivera's initial arrest and alleged escape
The Marlborough Police Department released new information on Monday about the initial arrest of Rivera and how he allegedly escaped the hospital
Police responded to Ames Street on Saturday for a domestic disturbance call, where Rivera is accused of being combative and hitting an officer.
After he was taken to the police department, police said that he complained of chest pain and other issues; a medic evaluation determined he would need to be taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment.
When the two officers accompanying him removed his handcuffs for a medical procedure at the hospital, he allegedly made a run for it, and got out through a door. That was around 9 p.m. Saturday.
He allegedly got a stranger's help, who unknowingly gave Rivera a ride after he told the stranger he got into a car accident. The stranger later helped police locate Rivera.
