UPDATE – EASTHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT MEDIA STATEMENT:

On Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at approximately 4pm, the Eastham Police Department
received a report of a suspicious individual that was parked in front of an Eastham business. The
individual was reportedly dropping trash and other belongings out of the vehicle onto the ground.
While responding to this call, Officer Rick Pellegrino observed a vehicle travelling south on
Route 6 that fit the description of the vehicle given by the caller. Officer Pellegrino activated his
cruiser’s emergency lights on Route 6 in the area of Cj’s Garage and attempted to stop the
vehicle for questioning. At this time the operator, later identified as Nathan Burke, age 36 of
East Andover NH, began throwing items from the vehicle, a black Chevrolet Avalanche, and
failed to stop for Officer Pellegrino. Burke continued southbound on Route 6, entered the
Orleans Rotary on the wrong side of the road, and aggressively drove his vehicle at an Eastham
Police Cruiser, operated by Sergeant Mark Haley, almost striking it. Burke then entered Route 6
westbound and continued driving. Sergeant Haley and Officer Pellegrino pursued the vehicle,
which was travelling at, or below, the speed limit the entire time of the incident. During the
pursuit, Sergeant Haley requested that “stop sticks” be deployed in an effort to deflate Burke’s
tires and stop his vehicle. This was accomplished by the Massachusetts State Police on Route 6
in the area of exit 5. Burke’s vehicle came to a stop near exit 4 where he was taken into custody
by State Police. Burke was transported to Cape Cod Hospital for evaluation and is due to be
arraigned at the Orleans District Court today. The Eastham Police Department charged Burke
with the following offences:

Additional charges were also filed by the Massachusetts State Police.

……………………….

INITIAL HN REPORT:

SANDWICH – DEVELOPING — A 36-year-old male was Tasered after leading police on a nearly 45 minute pursuit along Route 6 from Eastham to Sandwich yesterday afternoon.

The following HN Video contains over 10 minutes of chase related police radio transmissions from various agencies, including the state police. The video also contains a continual loop of cell phone video sent in by a HN reader who wanted to remain anonymous. The video shows the suspect in handcuffs sitting on the side of Route 6 after the pursuit had just ended in the area of Exit 4.

As you will hear, the pursuit started on Route 6 in Eastham near the intersection with Hoffman Lane yesterday afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m..

Eastham patrol officers were trying stop a Black Chevy Avalanche pickup truck. Throughout the entire pursuit, speeds generally ranged from 40 to just below 60 miles per hour. An Eastham patrolman later mentioned the driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, may have discarded something from the driver’s side window, according to radio transmissions. Also, at some point early on in the pursuit, officers mentioned the fleeing pickup nearly struck a police cruiser head on.

Surrounding towns were notified of the ongoing westbound pursuit. At least one other town reportedly joined in for a period of time, while other town police officers rushed toward local on ramps to block traffic from getting onto the highway while the pursuit was in progress.

Harwich police briefly took the lead in the pursuit as it passed Exit 10, according to radio transmissions. Then somewhere westbound between Exits 10 and 9, Massachusetts State Troopers finally took over the lead for the remainder of the pursuit…

In the following HN Video, you’ll hear troopers report their speed and road conditions as they planned to setup and deploy Stinger tire deflation spikes somewhere ahead of the fleeing Chevy Avalanche.
Then as the pursuit approached Exit 5 in West Barnstable, you’ll hear a trooper announce that he just accomplished a “direct hit” with the “sticks” (A.K.A. Stingers).

Moments later another trooper reported that the fleeing pickup had 3 flat tires and was smoking.

Staties then soon reported they had deployed a Taser during the arrest of the driver, moments after the vehicle had finally come to a stop.

The suspect was identified as Nathan Burke, age 36. Sources say the state police are charging Burke with Failure to Stop, along with Resisting Arrest…

Burke was eventually transported to Cape Cod Hospital for an evaluation related to being struck by a Taser…

Shortly after the pursuit ended, Eastham Police Officers were back in the area where the pursuit had begun in their own town, apparently looking for discarded evidence. It is very likely the EPD will be pursuing their own separate charges in this case.

HN will provide official updates as they become available. The following HN Video highlights police chase audio from start to finish…

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