Trigger Pulled on Barnstable Officer

(Photos provided by the Dennis Police and Barnstable Police website. Visit them by clicking----> http://www.barnstablepolice.com/) 

.

WEST DENNIS- Today at approximately 6:25 AM members of the Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement’s SWAT team assisted Dennis Police in the execution of a search warrant at Apartment #24, South Cape Apartments, located at 691 Route 28 in West Dennis. 

.

The search warrant was issued after a month long investigation into drug dealing being conducted from this apartment.  The joint investigation was conducted by personnel from the Dennis, Yarmouth, and Barnstable Police Departments; as well as Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the Cape Cod Drug Task Force. 

.

When SWAT entered the apartment they were confronted by an occupant who got up from a bed in the living room pointing a loaded 9mm S&W pistol at Patrolman Mark McWilliams of the Barnstable Police Department. 

.

McWilliams was the first officer through the door.  The suspect pulled the trigger and fortunately the weapon failed to fire because the safety was still on.  Patrolman McWilliams grabbed the weapon and following a brief struggle was able to wrestle it from the suspect. 

.

The suspect is identified as Ronnie F. Baams Jr., 25 years of age, of Apt. # 24 at South Cape Apartments. 

A second suspect in the apartment, Christina M. Davis, 22 years of age, was taken into custody without further incident.  

.

Following a search of the apartment officers located more than 170 grams of powdered cocaine which was found secreted in various hiding devices and locations.   

.

Additionally, seven cell phones (some capable of messaging), 54 additional rounds of 9mm ammunition, 4 rounds of .12gauge shotgun ammunition, brass knuckles and other drug paraphernalia including a scale were confiscated from the apartment. 

.

Mr. Baams is charged with Armed Assault with Intent to Murder, Trafficking (More Than 100 Grams of Cocaine), Possession of a Firearm without a License, Possession of Ammunition and Being an Armed Career Criminal.   

.

Mr. Baams was arraigned in Orleans District Court today where he pled not-guilty on all charges.  Mr. Baams was held in lieu of a quarter-million dollars cash bail for his next appearance in Orleans District Court on March 30^th. 

.

Ms. Davis is being charged with Trafficking (More Than 100 Grams of Cocaine) and Failure to Secure a Firearm. 

.

She was also arraigned in Orleans District Court where she pled not guilty.  Her bail was set at $7,500 cash.  Her next appearance in Orleans District Court is scheduled for March 30, 2007. 

.

Both individuals face a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in state prison on the drug trafficking charges alone. 

.

(Above information was provided by Captain William M. Monahan of the Dennis Police Department.)