BARNSTABLE POLICE INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE “DATE RAPE” DRUGGING...

HYANNIS – This past Saturday evening – June 11, 2022 – at around 11:22 p.m., Barnstable Police officers and Hyannis Firefighters responded to a call where a woman believed she had just been drugged, possibly with some type of “date rape drug.” She had been a patron at one of the nearby bars. A Hyannis FD ambulance responded and met police officers to the rear of one of their cruisers where they found the patient apparently inside the vehicle’s cargo area. EMTs then walked on each side of the woman as she was able to walk into an awaiting ambulance. She was them transported to Cape Cod Hospital.

A Barnstable Police Detective responded to the scene and began speaking with the woman’s friends. He then eventually made his way over to the emergency room.

HN then spoke with two local bar owners/operators who arrived on scene out of concern for what possibly may have happened. HN explained to both owners/operators that these types of incidents have reportedly been happening across the region lately and the Barnstable Police had recently put out a media statement regarding the subject. Both bar owners expressed concern and that they wanted to help police get to the bottom of things, with one of the owners wondering if the alleged activity could have been caught on one of the many cameras they have installed inside the bar area.

(HN NOTE: I have since spoken with a Barnstable Police supervisor regarding the Saturday evening incident and he informed HN that the investigation is active and ongoing. ALSO NOTE, HN has omitted the bar’s name and street address from the this report and following audio… at least for the time being. This is because: 1. The purpose of this HN report is to alert bars and bar patrons that “date rape” drugging may be happening in our area. 2. There is no current evidence that this is happening at one particular bar, and may be happening – or could possibly be happening – at any of the many bar settings in the area. If the incidents begin happening at one particular bar with greater frequency than others, HN will then be obliged to begin reporting the name of that particular establishment. And 3. In recent days, HN has spoken with several bar owners/operators about this subject. All agree people should be vigilant at ANY bar they visit… and up to this point, the bar owners I’ve spoken with have seemed equally motivated to cooperate with any and all investigations into this matter.)

There is no further information regarding the aforementioned investigation at the time of this report.

The following “HN Video” contains general audio from this past Saturday evening… it is then followed by a BPD media statement…

[HN VIDEO – PRESS PLAY]

THE FOLLOWING IS A RECENT BARNSTABLE POLICE PRESS STATEMENT, RELEASED ON TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022:

The Barnstable Police Department has recently received another report of patrons at a local bar feeling the effects of possible “date rape drugs”. Although there have been no assaults reported at this time, members of the Barnstable Police Department have been actively investigating these incidents. As a result of the ongoing investigation, information has been developed that the method of ingestion of these drugs may not just be drinks, it is possible that the substance is being delivered via altered “vape” cartridges. Based on this new information the Department is urging individuals that are gathering in social settings to not only keep a close watch on their beverages, but to also avoid sharing or using “vape” cartridges from unknown people.

If you have any information regarding individuals or establishments selling or distributing altered “vape” cartridges please contact Detective Andrew Johnson at johnsona@barnstablepolice.com, Detective Spencer Jackson at jacksons@barnstablepolice.com, or the Barnstable Police Detective Unit at 508-778-3820.