HYANNIS – According to details provided by Lt. Mark Mellyn of the Barnstable Police Department, at approximately 10:20 p.m. last evening – Friday June 16th, 2023 – Officer Thomas “TJ” Corbett (a first year officer with the BPD) was on routine patrol monitoring traffic on Main St. in Hyannis when he observed a vehicle pass by that didn’t look right. A blue 2011 Infinity sedan traveling east along Main Street did not have a front license plate, which is a violation. Patrolman Corbett pulled behind the Infinity and conducted a traffic stop in the vicinity of Camp Street. Corbett dug deeper with information from the vehicle’s rear license plate, and after a RMV computer check, learned the driver did not possess an active license to drive in Massachusetts.

The operator, who also was the registered owner of the Infinity, allegedly admitted to Officer Corbett that he should not have been driving due to the fact he did not possess a valid driver’s license.

As the investigation unfolded, the driver also allegedly told Officer Corbett that he had a firearm inside the vehicle. According to Lt. Mellyn, Officer Corbett then safely removed the driver from the vehicle before continuing his investigation.

Additional officers responded as a firearm was recovered from the Infinity. The driver reportedly did not have a license for carrying the firearm.

At this time, a member of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit responded to assist with documenting evidence.

The driver and owner of the Infinity, Deandre Bennett, 21, of Hyannis, was arrested and charged with Carrying a Loaded Firearm Without a License, Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card, Larceny of a Firearm, and Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

Bennett was booked at BPD Headquarters and later released on personal recognizance. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Tuesday, June 20th.

HN NOTES:

Patrolman Thomas “TJ” Corbett was sworn in with the Barnstable Police Department less than a year ago, in August 2022. Since then, and according to HN observations, he has performed successfully in numerous serious investigations and incidents (including successfully applying a tourniquet to help save the life of a 19-year-old shooting victim in December of 2022), much more than some seasoned officers from other departments experience in an entire career. (And that’s pretty much what happens to ALL these young cops across the Cape, they, more often than not, experience things many officers do not see in a lifetime…) Patrolman Corbett was born and raised in the Town of Barnstable. He attended and graduated from Barnstable High School, where he played varsity ice hockey. (It’s funny, based on my personal observations, good hockey players often make good cops.)

Young Officer Corbett is off to a fine start.

* The initial details contained in the above report are based on police radio transmissions and information from police sources. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is a brought to you by Pink Floyd… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT!  HEADPHONES OBLIGATORY!!!]

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