CLICK HERE for HN’s initial report on this developing story…

HYANNIS – According to a police report and complaint filed yesterday in Barnstable District Court, it was a first year Barnstable Police Officer who discovered senior Barnstable Police Detective Colin Kelley, a long serving member of the Barnstable Police Department, hunched over behind the wheel of a stationary pickup truck, still running and in gear at the entrance to Barnstable Police Headquarters, early this past Saturday morning – December 18, 2021 at approximately 1:40 a.m..

The patrolman’s actual report continues as follows:

“I was traveling south on Phinney’s Lane when I observed a vehicle stationary in the roadway approximately 10- 15 feet south of the front entrance of the Police Station. It should be noted that Phinney’s Lane is a public way maintained by the Town of Barnstable. I was travelling in the opposite direction of the vehicle and observed its headlights to be on. As I passed the vehicle I observed the operator appear to be hunched over looking into his own lap. Concerned for the operator’s safety, I immediately pulled in behind the vehicle, observing that the brake lights were illuminated. I advised the station I would be off with the vehicle (VTE365) and got out of the cruiser to check on the operator. As I approached the vehicle I observed that the [vehicle’s] engine was running. I approached the driver’s side window and observed the operator had his eyes closed and was hunched over. I attempted to get the operator’s attention by knocking on the window but there was no response. At this time [a second Barnstable Police patrol officer] had arrived on scene to assist. [HN NOTE: The second patrol officer on scene is also a first year Barnstable Police Officer.] I tried a second time to raise the operator’s attention but he still appeared to have his eyes closed. I started hitting the glass harder and attempted to open the door which was locked. After another attempt the operator’s eyes opened and he started to look up at me. The operator looked confused and as he became alert, [the] vehicle began to slowly roll forward. As the operator looked at me I was able to identify him as Colin Kelley. As the vehicle moved forward I was able to move with it and continued to hit the glass telling the operator to brake and stop the car. The vehicle continued to roll forward and as this was happening [the second Barnstable patrol officer on scene] radioed for the assistance of a supervisor. I continued to attempt to open the door as the vehicle continued to roll, eventually stopping after striking a telephone pole at a slow speed. The vehicle was still in drive and the operator now rolled down the window approximately half way. At this point I was able to reach inside and manually unlock the door. I immediately opened the door, put the emergency brake on, turned off the vehicle, and took the keys. As I did this [a Barnstable Police Sergeant/supervisor] had arrived on scene. I was able to ask the operator if he was okay or if he needed medical assistance. His speech was slurred and I was unable to understand what he said. At that point [the sergeant] had approached the vehicle and he took over the investigation.

[The sergeant] called for rescue and Hyannis Fire arrived on scene. At this time I assisted him with getting the operator inside the ambulance.”

The following is the actual report of the Barnstable Police sergeant who arrived on scene, taking over the investigation:

“On December 18, 2021 I was working as the Patrol Supervisor for the Midnight Shift in marked police cruiser E-211. At approximately 0140 [the first BPD patrolman on scene] called off that he was checking on a vehicle in front of the Police Station entrance at 1200 Phinney’s Ln. I was en route to the call when I heard the backup [BPD patrolman] radio that they needed a supervisor. [ ]

I arrived on scene and immediately observed MA VTE365 a 2019 Black Dodge Ram that had struck the telephone pole directly at the front entrance to the Police Station. (See 21-1103-AC) I approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Collin Kelley [DOB redacted] to be seated behind the wheel. I could detect a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle and Colin was looking at me with [ ] glassy, bloodshot eyes. He appeared to look right through me as I attempted to ask him if he was injured or in need of medical attention. Collin spoke to me with thick slurred speech and it was difficult to understand what he was saying. I called for Hyannis Rescue to evaluate him. Due to the crash and his inability to answer my questions I was concerned that he may have a head injury.

Colin remained seated in the vehicle until rescue arrived. [The first patrolman on scene] and I escorted him out of the vehicle to the ambulance. Once outside the vehicle Colin was very unsteady on his feet and would have fallen down had we not been holding him up. I would have asked Colin to participate in field sobriety tests however I was unable to do so for his own safety. Collin was transported to Cape Cod Hospital by Hyannis Fire. It was my opinion due to my observations that Colin was operating under the influence of alcohol.

I then responded to Cape Cod Hospital in order to speak further with Colin. During my interaction with Colin I could still detect a strong odor of alcohol and he was having trouble answering my questions. When he spoke to me he did so with his eyes half closed and was speaking with such thick speech it was hard to understand. He would continually try to get up and leave and would almost fall down. I informed Colin that at this point he was going to be charged with operating under the influence of liquor and that he was under arrest. I read him his Miranda rights from the Barnstable Police Miranda right and waiver form which Colin refused to sign.

I continued to go through the OUI booking process at the hospital by reading the OUI rights and consent forms. After reading these to him he repeatedly told me to “shut it down”. I explained that I needed to read his right to a chemical test and he stated “I don’t want to”. Colin refused to sign the consent form and I marked him down as a refusal. Colin refused to answer any more questions on the OUI rights and observation form.

Due to my observations it was my opinion that Colin was intoxicated. Colin was medically cleared from the hospital and was bailed by [the bail commissioner] from there. I entered the refusal and a copy of it is included with this report. Colin was given his notice of license suspension along with uniform citation T1379982 in hand later that morning for the following:

M.G.L. Sec 90 Ch. 24 Operating under the influence of liquor”

The above HN photos were taken at the entrance of Barnstable Police Headquarters at the time the incident was alleged to have occurred. It shows the pickup truck in question that had allegedly just rolled into a telephone pole. It also shows on-duty police officers and members of the Hyannis Fire Department on scene. Officials on scene were attending to someone inside the ambulance.

The top photo also shows a man, believed to be Detective Peter Ginnetty, also a long serving detective and member of the Barnstable Police Department, dressed in civilian clothes at the rear tailgate of the black RAM pickup truck described in the above police reports. Moments after taking this photo, HN observed the pickup driven away from the scene by a person who appeared to be the same man wearing civilian clothes in the above photo.

HN NOTE: HN was unaware it was the crime scene involving a BPD detective the moment the pickup truck was abruptly driven off from the scene along Phinney’s Lane, turning left onto Route 132. In retrospect, HN finds the fact the pickup truck was abruptly driven away from the “crash” scene to be troubling, to say the least. Why wasn’t the truck impounded for 12 hours according to Melanie’s Law? Did the black Dodge Ram contain evidence related to the OUI investigation and arrest? Was Detective Colin Kelly’s firearm or firearms inside the vehicle? And would he have been charged with being in possession of a firearm while intoxicated had someone not tampered with the crime scene? According to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 269 Section 10H it’s illegal to carry on your person or possess in your vehicle a loaded firearm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is not a defense that you have a permit to carry the weapon. We may never know the answer to these questions because the crime scene was tampered with… possibly by another Barnstable Police Detective.

It’s also important to note, that Lieutenant Mark Mellyn of the Barnstable Police Department informed HN today that both Detective Colin Kelley and Detective Peter Ginnetty have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal affairs investigation.

This is a developing story and HN will continue to update this story with official details as both the criminal and internal affairs investigations unfold…

* All suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law…

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