Trooper Calls for Assistance, Dangerous Weapon Found

HYANNIS – At approximately 4pm – Sunday - Barnstable Police rushed to the Shaw’s supermarket parking lot on Route 132 to backup Massachusetts State Trooper Bruce Buckley (from the Yarmouth barracks) who was requesting assistance on a traffic stop.

Moments later, a Barnstable Patrolman signed off at the location and there was a brief period of tense radio silence after dispatch attempted to raise the officer several times to check on his “status” – the officer eventually reported that he was fine (just as other concerned Barnstable units were arriving) and that his portable radio had not been turned up. 

When any officer, from any agency requests backup or “assistance,” he can expect exactly that, lots of it and as quickly as possible.  Often officers will tell responding cruisers to “slow down” if there is no longer an imminent threat (ie. when the suspect is handcuffed and “in custody”). 

The two men arrested during the stop were Juan Miranda, age 26, and Elmer Melgar, age 24; both are from the Boston area.

Miranda had an outstanding warrant out of Dorchester for possession of marijuana.

Melgar was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon after officers discovered a double-edged dagger on his person.

Miranda was held at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility in Bourne.  Miranda was released after he made bail.