UPDATED: Foot chase, manhunt, first bite…
The following is the actual Barnstable SCU press release:
Two and a half hour foot chase ends with fugitive arrest
On January 31st, 2014 the Barnstable Detective Unit received information John Lopes, age 26, of Mashpee was in the area of Center Street, Centerville. LOPES had six outstanding arrests warrant from Barnstable Superior Court and Falmouth District Court. The charges on the outstanding warrants included trafficking cocaine, possession of class B/class D subsequent offense, possession of a firearm without an ID, and A&B on a police officer. LOPES has been hiding from law enforcement since October of 2012. He knew police were actively searching for him and never stayed in the same place very long. He has a lengthy criminal history and is very well known to Cape Cod law enforcement.
At approximately 7:30pm, members of the Barnstable Street Crime Unit (SCU) responded to the Center Street area in an attempt to locate LOPES. A 2002 GMC Yukon was observed exiting a residence on Center Street. The vehicle was being operated by a female. A male was observed in the passenger seat. The male subject was believed to be LOPES. SCU members activated their blue lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The vehicle slowed but failed to come to a complete stop. The male passenger, identified as LOPES, fled the vehicle on foot into a residential neighborhood off Phinney’s Lane. A foot pursuit was initiated as LOPES ran through back yards of occupied homes. Multiple police officers responded to the area including three (3) K-9 Units from the Barnstable Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, and Yarmouth Police Department. A wide perimeter was established in the area in an attempt to “box” LOPES in. LOPES was able to elude police and the K-9 Units for over 2 ½ hours. The interior of an occupied residence and a vacant house were searched in an attempt to capture LOPES with negative results.
The elements and lighting conditions in the area hampered the police efforts to locate LOPES. The residential neighborhoods LOPES was running through were extremely dark and snow covered. Several area residents expressed fear knowing a convicted felon was possibly hiding in their yard.
The effort of the police searching for LOPES finally paid off. LOPES was located by Yarmouth K-9 Officer Marc Thibeault and his partner Torres hiding in some shrubs directly in front of an occupied Connors Road residence. LOPES was placed under arrest and transported to Barnstable Police Department to be processed. LOPES had over $1500 cash on his person at the time of his arrest. The vehicle he fled from was found to contain a glass mason style jar with approximately two (2) ounces of marijuana. As a result he will face an additional charge of possession of class D with intent to distribute-subsequent offence. LOPES has several drug distribution charges on his criminal history. As a result the possible sentence if convicted is enhanced.
The search for LOPES was extensive and in a relatively small very populated residential neighborhood. It would not have come to a successful conclusion without the extraordinary effort of the K-9 officers involved and their partners. LOPES will be held without bail at the Barnstable Police Department. He will be arraigned in Barnstable District on Monday February 3rd, 2014. In addition to the warrants and marijuana charges, LOPES will also be charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Original story:
Centerville – Overall it was a fruitful night for Law Enforcement…
After a two and a half hour manhunt, SCU caught up to and captured their man.
Yarmouth Police Patrolman Marc Thibeault and his K-9 partner Torres got their “first bite.”
The efforts and cooperation of multiple agencies and three separate K-9 units paid off…
*****
Shortly after 7:30pm, the Barnstable Police operations frequency suddenly went from calm to an all out foot pursuit.
SCU Lieutenant John Murphy was out on the ground chasing a wanted man who fled from a traffic stop near the corner of Millstone Way and Phinneys Lane.
The surrounding neighborhood was immediately saturated with multiple police units as a perimeter was set up….
A Massachusetts State Police K-9 unit, along with a Barnstable Police K-9 unit were on the hunt right from the start. A while later a Yarmouth Police K-9 unit also joined the track, making a total of three K-9 units!
Lieutenant Murphy pulled out all stops and was not going to quit until he got his man. (Sensing the Lieutenant’s resolve, Hyannis News decided to take a position nearby on the outside of the perimeter…)
Two and a half hours later, after searching homes and back yards… while confirming and maintaining a clean perimeter… doubling back, rechecking, and leaving no stone unturned, Yarmouth Patrolman Marc Thibeault and his K-9 Torres were suddenly on to something.
All units rushed and suddenly converged on an address near the intersection of Conners Road and Phinneys Lane, where a 26-year-old man was taken into custody after being bitten and apprehended by Torres…
… it was the first time Torres ever had to bite a fleeing suspect.
John Lopes of Mashpee was arrested on six separate outstanding warrants from Barnstable Superior Court and Falmouth District Court. According to Lieutenant Murphy, warrant charges include Distribution of a Class B Substance, Assault and Battery, Possession of a Firearm without a FID, Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Trafficking Cocaine, and other charges…
Lopes was transported back to Barnstable Police Headquarters for booking and is currently being held in a jail cell…
The Barnstable Police are also charging Lopes with Possession of Marijuana…
Hyannis News will provide updates as they become available…
1/31/2014
Robert Bastille, HyannisNews.com
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