For Immediate Release: 2/22/2024 10:14 am
On February 22nd 2024 at about 3:51 AM, a Worcester Police officer was on patrol on Main St when he observed a vehicle pulled over to the side of the road with several people standing next to it. The officer turned around, and the operator of the vehicle turned his lights off and sped away. The officer activated his lights and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop, but the driver began driving erratically at a high rate of speed and refused to stop.
The officer shared that the vehicle failed to stop and did not pursue the vehicle. He BOLOed the vehicle’s information. At about 4:20 AM, another officer located the vehicle in a parking lot on Pembroke St. Officers responded to Pembroke St and attempted to call the operator out of the vehicle. The operator, identified as thirty-seven-year-old Jorge Virella of Southbridge, was initially uncooperative and refused to exit the vehicle. He eventually exited and refused to show his hands or listen to officers’ commands.
After some time had passed, Mr. Virella eventually complied with officers and was taken into custody. Officers located a large amount of what appeared to be fentanyl in the vehicle, along with multiple open bottles of alcohol. Mr. Virella was placed under arrest and is charged with Trafficking in Fentanyl over 10 Grams, Operating to Endanger, Failure to Stop for Police, and Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol.
