Heroin Bust after High-Speed Multi-Town Chase

On Friday, January 5, 2008 at 9:16 PM—the Yarmouth Police Department received a cell phone call from a concerned citizen reporting an erratically operated vehicle northbound on Willow Street.  The caller followed the vehicle as it turned eastbound on Route 6A in Yarmouthport. Yarmouth Police Disptacher/911 Operator Jayne Fogarty kept the caller on the line as he followed the 1993 Ford Escort and coordinated the efforts of the responding Patrol Officers.

Yarmouth Police Patrol Officer Kevin P. McIsaac spotted the vehicle as it passed the West Yarmouth Road intersection of Route 6A and observed it swerve back and forth from one travel lane to the other at a speed of 40 to 45 miles per hour.  Patrol Officer McIsaac attempted to conduct a stop of the vehicle but the vehicle did not stop and increased its speed to 50 to 60 miles per hour and ignored the fully marked police cruiser and its emergency blue lights and sirens. Yarmouth Police Patrol Officer John Dimitres assisted in the pursuit as the vehicle continued to travel eastbound at a high rate of speed and in and out of travel lanes.  The Yarmouth Police Department notified other police agencies as the vehicle traveled through Dennis and Brewster through light to moderate traffic. 

On Route 6A in Orleans—the suspect vehicle traveled over a set of tire deflation devices deployed by the Orleans Police and eventually came to a stop near the Route 6 overpass.  The operator of the vehicle jumped out and fled on foot into a nearby wooded area.  Patrol Officers Dimitres and McIsaac followed the suspect through the thick brush and snow.  The suspect attempted to climb a chain link fence but fell off and then reversed direction and charged at the officers.  The officers physically subdued him and were able to overcome his resistance while placing him in custody

Members of the Orleans Fire Department transported the suspect to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis for medical examination and treatment for minor cuts and scrapes.  While enroute to the hospital the suspect apologized for not stopping and stated that he was under the influence of heroin. An inventory of his belongings revealed 18 concealed packets of heroin. The suspect is currently being held at Yarmouth Police Headquarters and is scheduled for arraignment in the Barnstable District Court on Monday, January 7, 2008.

Arrested Person

Jeffrey L. Mendoza—Age 33

4 Francis Helen Road

Yarmouthport, MA

Charges

OUI—Drugs

Operating to Endanger

Failure to Stop for Police

Failure to Stay Within Marked Travel Lanes

Speeding

Operating with a Suspended License

Unregistered Vehicle

Possession of Class A Heroin

(This media release was prepared by Yarmouth Police Department Lieutenant Steven G. Xiarhos—Patrol Force Commander)