Westborough Resident Leads State Police on Chase

MIDDLEBOROUGH - January 7, 2016 — At approximately 5:36 pm tonight State Police and Dennis Police located a Ford pickup truck being operated on Route 6 westbound by an adult male. The man was reported to be emotionally distraught and had allegedly made threats to harm others. The initial report made to Dennis Police about the suspect indicated he may be armed. 

The operator, who was driving a 2001 Ford F350, refused to stop for police when they tried to pull it over in Yarmouth and fled at speeds ranging from 70-80 mph. 

A pursuit was authorized by State Police Troop D Headquarters. Prior to the bridge the vehicle drove over a spike strip laid down by police. The trucks two front tires were punctured and deflated but the truck kept fleeing at slower speeds as troopers continued to pursue. The pursuit continued from Route 6 onto Sandwich Road and the Bourne Bridge to Route 25. The pursuit continued from Route 25 to Route 495 northbound. 

During the pursuit, Dennis Police had contact with the suspect by telephone; he indicated that he needed medical help and wanted an ambulance. 

State Police arranged to have an ambulance positioned ahead of the suspect on Route 495 in Middleboro, near the State Police Barracks in that town. 

At 6:39 pm the suspect saw the ambulance and stopped his truck. Within five minutes he came out of the truck and surrendered peacefully. He was transported by ambulance to Morton Hospital in Taunton for evaluation and treatment. 

The suspect is a 26-year-old Westborough resident. For reasons of medical privacy, because details of his medical condition are included here, State Police will not release the man's name. 

During the pursuit the truck struck another civilian vehicle, causing minor damage. 

State Police will seek charges related to the pursuit. He has not been arrested; rather, charges will be sought after he is released from hospital custody. 

Summary

The Hopkinton Police were involved in the following incidents, which are not included in the detail report below.

6 Times the Police assisted the Fire Department, another department, town, person, or outside Police agency.

8 Motor Vehicle/Person/Home/Building Checks.

2 Motor Vehicle Accidents without personal injury.

Incident Log

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

6:28 pm Officer Arthur Schofield completed a crime prevention action on Frostpane Lane.

4:56 pm A caller reported finding a credit card on the side of West Main Street.

3:36 pm A caller reported that a suspicious male was parked in a vehicle outside of a West Main Street business for an extended period of time. Three officers responded and spoke with the operator.

2:35 am Officer Jacob Campbell issued a motor vehicle a parking ticket on Spring Lane.

2:08 am Officer Linda Higgins issued a parking citation to two motor vehicles, one on Church Street and one on Church Place.

Editor:

I watched the Selectmen's Meeting Tuesday night to hear the public’s comments and the discussion about next steps in the Fire Chief search.  I would like to express my displeasure in the Board’s discussion and several of their comments about the search process.  There were several comments that were inaccurate, as well as many others that were downright insulting to members of the  Fire Chief Search Committee.  

To begin with, things were not  “pre-decided” by the search committee, in the words of the Board’s chairman.  The search committee’s intent was to provide all qualified candidates who could do the job and would fit in Hopkinton. It was also stated that the search committee was composed of “lay people.” Along with Board of Selectman member John Mosher, the so called “lay people” on the Fire search Committee consisted of Newburyport Fire Chief Christopher LeClair, a well-respected veteran of the fire service, Bob Levenson, an HR executive with over 25 years of HR experience, including an extensive background in behavioral interviewing, Hopkinton Town Manager Norman Khumalo, who has years and years of experience hiring senior municipal employees, and Hopkinton Human Resources Director Maria Casey, who has significant private and public sector HR experience. For one of the Board members to say that the process needed to be “more professional” is an insult to these public servants and volunteers.  

Interestingly, Mosher, Levenson and Khumalo were members of the Police Chief Search Committee.   The process that committee used was the same one used during the Fire Chief search and, at the time, was lauded by these same selectmen as outstanding  and a model for future use.  

The Board of Selectmen are the ultimate hiring authority and have every right to accept or reject the recommendations of a search committee.  However, dissatisfaction with the outcome does not make it right for them to denigrate the process and by extension, the  participants on the committee who devoted countless hours in service to the town and its residents.

The decision to make Steve Slaman the interim Chief is also insulting.  How would any of us like to be told (in public, no less) “We have confidence in you, but we will watch you closely over the next 3 months, will put you through an assessment center, and in the meantime, we will be looking at other resumes.“  Nice vote of confidence and great way to start a new role!   

The way volunteers and long standing, valuable employees are treated by our selectmen reflects very poorly on the town and our elected officials.

Maura McNamara

13 Smith Road

Hopkinton, MA

January 7, 2016

The Hopkinton Police were involved in the following incidents, which are not included in the detail report below.

8 Times the Police assisted the Fire Department, another department, town, person, or outside Police agency.

20 Motor Vehicle/Person/Home/Building Checks.

1 Motor Vehicle Accident without personal injury.

3 Disabled Motor Vehicles.

Incident Log

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

7:30 pm The Southborough Police Department reported that an erratic operator was driving at a high rate of speed on Route 85 heading into Hopkinton. Officer Aaron O'Neil checked the area with a negative find.

7:17 pm A 911 caller from Cunningham Street reported that she meant to make a long distance call but called 911 instead.

6:31 pm A male caller reported being involved in a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street and the other driver would not give him her insurance or license information. The female then called 911 stating that she would not give her information because she didn't feel safe as he was allegedly being very aggressive. Officer Panagiotis Hontzeas responded to assist.

4:30 pm A resident of Fawn Ridge Road reported that there was a suspicious package in the cul-de-sac of her neighborhood and she did not feel safe removing it. Officer Aaron O'Neil removed the box which contained an old used firework.

3:23 pm A Huckleberry Road resident reported that a middle school aged child was riding a go-cart/dune buggy on the street. Officer Philip Powers was advised of the situation.

1:53 pm A resident of Stone Crossing Way reported receiving a suspicious piece of mail. Lieutenant Charles Wallace spoke with the caller and advised that it was a subpoena.

1:49 pm A caller reported a possible IRS/Treasury scam and was advised on ways to protect from fraud.

12:47 pm A caller from Lakeshore Drive reported that people were on possibly unsafe ice. Officer William Burchard checked the area but could not find anyone on the ice.

12:18 pm A caller reported that a large box truck may have hit several vehicles on South Street. Officer Thomas Griffin located the vehicle and wrote a report.

8:30 am A caller from Cedar Street reported that a running vehicle had been blocking the sidewalk and entrance to his business for approximately fifteen minutes. The vehicle had been moved prior to Officer Thomas Griffin's arrival.

2:17 am A Fawn Ridge Road resident reported hearing multiple gunshots. Two officers checked the area and stated that the Ashland Police Department found a box of fireworks.

Monday, January 4, 2016

5:12 pm A motorist reported that an erratic operator turned onto Hayden Rowe Street. Officer Aaron O'Neil responded and spoke with the driver.

2:52 pm A caller from Wood Street reported a suspicious incident where a man parked a vehicle in a parking lot, jumped a fence then got into another vehicle. Two officers checked the area with a negative find. The mother of the operator was contacted and advised that her son was meeting a friend to go to the gym and was unsure why he left the vehicle there and then jumped the fence.

12:29 pm A resident of Emma Drive reported that they were out of town and a neighbor advised them that there was a white van in their driveway with the garage door open. The homeowner then called back and stated that it was the housekeepers husband.

8:58 am A passerby notified Chief Edward Lee of a suspicious male that was walking in the area of Ash Street. Two officers responded and spoke with the individual.

2:14 am Officer Jacob Campbell issued a motor vehicle a winter parking citation on Church Place.

1:33 am Officer Jacob Campbell issued a winter parking ticket to a motor vehicle on B Street.

The Hopkinton Police were involved in the following incidents, which are not included in the detail report below.

10 Times the Police assisted the Fire Department, another department, town, person, or outside Police agency.

58 Motor Vehicle/Person/Home/Building Checks.

2 Motor Vehicle Accidents without personal injury.

2 Disabled Motor Vehicles.

1 Time the Police assisted with an Animal Call.

Incident Log

Sunday, January 3, 2016

11:40 pm An Oak Street resident reported hearing someone walking in the woods behind their house. Two officers checked the area but could not find anyone suspicious.

10:58 pm A resident of Fruit Street reported seeing a suspicious motor vehicle parked with its lights on for twenty to thirty minutes and believed that the vehicle had been present for the last few nights. The vehicle left the area while on the call.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

10:55 pm The Upton Police Department requested assistance with apprehending an individual with an active warrant who stated that he would run if he saw police. Four officers responded to assist.

10:33 am Officer Thomas Griffin spoke with a resident of Pleasant Street who was pumping water into the roadway which kept freezing causing a hazard.

6:15 am Officer John Moran notified the DPW of a sump pump hose that was coming from a house on Pleasant Street which was causing icy conditions on the sidewalk.

2:37 am Officer John Moran issued three motor vehicles winter parking violations on Meserve Street, Section One and Section Two.

Friday, January 1, 2016

7:32 pm A caller reported a suspicious motor vehicle in a parking lot on Woodview Way. Sgt. Scott vanRaalten spoke with the operator who stated that they were just waiting for a friend.

2:35 pm Officer William Burchard spoke with a homeowner on Breakneck Hill Road regarding someone backing up into their mailbox.

1:39 pm Multiple callers reported a low flying aircraft in the area of Frankland Road. Officer Philip Powers advised that it was a military aircraft that had permission to be in the area.

3:24 am Two officers responded to Milford to assist an injured officer.

1:57 am Officer John Moran issued two motor vehicles on Meserve Street parking citations.

12:22 am A caller from Old Farm Road reported that multiple youths were ringing doorbells in the neighborhood. Two officers checked the area several times with a negative find.

Thursday, December 31, 2016

2:28 pm Officer Aaron O'Neil spoke with a motor vehicle operator who reported that her windshield was damaged by some debris that fell off of another vehicle on Route 495.

11:53 am A caller reported that a man was shoveling snow and ice into the roadway on Fruit Street Officer Aaron O'Neil responded and spoke with the resident.

11:26 am A walk-in from Alexander Road reported that his vehicle was broken into overnight.

10:18 am A School Street resident reported that her mailbox was damaged overnight. Officer Aaron O'Neil responded to write a report.

7:58 am A caller reported overnight parking violations on Meserve Street.

2:45 am The Northbridge Police Department requested an officer check a North Mill Street residence for someone that they were looking for. Two officers checked the area with a negative find.