Eighteen-year-old Hyannis male arrested for Aggravated Rape…
HN PHOTO: The scene of the alleged aggravated rape and other alleged crimes. Early morning, May 2nd, 2021.
UPDATE: On March 10, 2022, one of six charges against Daishawn Williams ended up being dropped. The Aggravated Rape charge was dropped according to the DA’s office because the victim requested that the case remain in district court as opposed to Superior Court, where rape cases are heard as a rule. At the time of this update – 3/17/2022 – Williams still faces 5 separate charges in district court. Those charges are as follows: 1. Indecent Assault & Battery on a Person 14 or Over… 2. Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon… 3. Assault & Battery… 4. Larceny From a Building… and 5. Indecent Assault & Battery on a Person 14 or Over.
HYANNIS – In a telephone interview with Chief Matthew Sonnabend of the Barnstable Police Department, HN learned that there had been a felony arrest on Thursday, May 13th, related to an earlier HN report initially published on May 2nd, 2021, entitled “ALLEGATIONS OF ‘GANG RAPE’ INSIDE HYANNIS HOTEL ROOM…” [Click here for that initial report]
During a carefully planned felony, or “high risk,” May 13th traffic stop, Daishawn Williams, age 18, of Hyannis was arrested and charged with several serious felonies, including one count of Aggravated Rape, two counts of Indecent Assault & Battery on a Person 14-Years-Old or Older, Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, an additional count of Assault & Battery, and Larceny from a Building.
Police had obtained two warrants for Williams, a search warrant and felony arrest warrant, both resulting from an investigation into the May 2nd aggravated rape allegations. During their investigation, Barnstable Police also became aware of a troubling online video showing Williams in possession of what appeared to be firearms. The violent nature of the alleged crimes, coupled with the now very real possibility of firearms, made the apprehension and arrest of Williams a potentially lethal situation for everyone involved.
The main concern was now safety. Officers had the option of making the arrest at or inside William’s residence, but that wasn’t the safest option due to the likelihood of potentially lethal, unknown circumstances and variables. Intelligence on Williams, including combined training and experience, led officers toward a more controlled option, a planned felony traffic stop, with plenty of tactically deployed police resources on hand to diminish any notions of aggression or flight on the part of Williams.
When making an arrest (or a felony arrest especially), it’s an officers’ duty to do so in the safest way possible. Chief Sonnabend summed it up this way, “They were arresting someone accused of a crime, and the goal of the officers was to get everyone through that process safely.”
On May 13th, the day of the arrest, the arrest team received a tip that Williams was in a particular car. Police did not know who else was inside the car with Williams, but were prepared with many well-informed, well-trained police officers on hand. And their calculations to diminish hazards, along with a well-executed plan, payed off; Williams was safely taken into custody.
As with any felony arrest, there are unforeseen variables that may jeopardize safety if not carefully planned for. In the case of the Williams arrest, there were other occupants inside of the vehicle at the time of the arrest, including his mother, a friend, and two children. Fortunately, Williams was immediately convinced to cooperate with the arresting officers’ lawful, court warranted commands. Fortunately, all officers were well-prepared, professional, well-trained and focused, all working toward the same main goal, everyone’s safety. Fortunately, not one person was physically harmed during the high-risk arrest of the accused, Daishawn Williams.
As you will see and hear in the following HN Video from the early morning of the alleged crimes – May 2nd, 2021 – Barnstable Police rushed to a Hyannis area hotel for reports of an ongoing sexual assault in one of the rooms. When HN arrived on scene, several police cruisers were already in the vicinity, apparently searching for the alleged suspects who had already left the area. After several minutes, HN was approached by a young adult male walking barefoot, appearing upset. According to the young man, who said he was still scared and shaking from what had just occurred, he had just learned his girlfriend was sexually assaulted in one of the rooms, held down and “gang raped” by three to four males who had already fled the area prior to police arriving on scene. “Gang raped” were the words he repeated. It was a harrowing, emotionally charged scene. And the allegations were alarming, to say the least.
The woman, described to HN as being just 25-years-old – the alleged victim in this case – was eventually taken to Cape Cod Hospital in a Hyannis Rescue ambulance.
The suspect is reportedly being held without bail pending an upcoming detention hearing… as this case remains open and ongoing… [DEVELOPING]
* All suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
[HN VIDEO FROM MAY 2ND, 2021 – PRESS PLAY]
