Half dressed home invasion victims took refuge with neighbors… suspect in custody… [Video]
Centerville – The victims of a morning home invasion didn’t have time to put on shoes and get fully dressed as they sought refuge at a neighbor’s house…
A Witness said his neighbors showed up at his door, two shirtless males and a shoeless female in pajamas, looking for a place to hide…
The horrified victims believed the home invader they had just encountered may have been armed with a gun. The neighbor took them in, telling them to sit on a sofa and stay out of view of any windows.
At about 11:35am, police received an open 911 call from a Skunknet Road address in Centerville. Dispatchers could hear screaming in the background as the phone line remained open… officers were already rushing to the area. Dispatchers also heard someone say “you’ve got to get out of here…”
According to one witness, the masked intruder had suddenly broke into the home and started attacking the victims with a small bat…
Additional Barnstable squad cars were immediately sent to the area after dispatch received another call from the neighbor’s house on Ames Way…
Police were looking a heavyset black male wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt and jeans… possibly armed with gun…
State police were also notified and informed regarding a black SUV that had been seen leaving the area and possibly involved in the crime…
A Barnstable K-9 unit was also dispatched to assist in the search…
Patrolman Michael Puntonio caught up to a man fitting the suspect’s description in the area of nearby Powder Horn Way. The man was recognized as someone who is no stranger to police with a lengthy criminal history involving violent crimes and drug related offenses. The suspect was not from the neighborhood…
Police arrested Derek Cavotta, approximately age 40, for Armed Home Invasion while Masked… along with other charges (see below)…
Cavotta was reportedly identified by witnesses at the scene…
Cavotta may very well be looking a life sentence due to his lengthy record and nature of this latest crime…
According to sources, Cavotta stated that he had been recently released from jail…
One of the victims suffered from non-life-threatening bumps and bruises after being beaten with the small bat…
Patrolman Troy Perry and his K-9 partner Izzo helped locate gloves and a mask in the area where Covotta had run from the scene.
Also, a small baseball bat that Covotta had used to assault one of the victims during the home invasion was located a short distance from the victims home.
Police are currently processing that piece of evidence for the possibility of finger prints and other identifiers…
Police did not discover a gun and believe that today’s crime just involved the small bat…
Police are still trying to figure out how the suspect arrived in the Centerville neighborhood.
According to the suspect, he felt unfamiliar and lost while trying to flee the area. The suspect also reportedly mentioned he had been dropped off in the area by a black Altima sedan…
The incident remains under investigation by Barnstable Detectives, who still are trying to nail down a motive and other circumstances leading up this particular Skunknet Road address being targeted in today’s crime…
The following video shows officers questioning the suspect, as well as general shots of the scene… [Press play]
According to a BPD press release, Covotta is currently charged with 3 counts of Masked Home Invasion While Armed, Assault and Battery Dangerous Weapon ( baseball bat) and Assault and Battery. He is currently being held at the Barnstable Police Department without bail. Covotta is scheduled to be arraigned in Barnstable District Court on 4/9/14.
Also of note, Dereck Covotta had just been released from Barnstable District Court less than 24 hours prior to his arrest. Covotta had been detained at the Barnstable County House of Correction for two months regarding a Breaking and Entering and Vandalism of Property incident.
4/8/2014 10:18pm BPD UPDATE: The victim of the assault suffered minor injuries... was treated at Cape Cod Hospital and released...
Hyannis News will provide updates as they become available....
In other news:
Photo: Local Boston Strong spirit...
photo by Mary Harrigan
4/8/2014
Robert Bastille,
P.S. -- Tonight's HyTown Vignette is brought to you by Bastille... [Press play]
