STABBING ATTACK: Victim severely knifed while seated in traffic… rushed directly to CCH… suspect still armed when arrested… has 111 prior criminal charges in Massachusetts…
The following is the actual YPD press statement:
Yarmouth Police Arrest Violent Career Criminal for Stabbing Attack
On Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at approximately 12:55PM, Yarmouth Police Officers were called to the Emergency Department at Cape Cod Hospital to investigate a stabbing. Upon arrival, Patrol Officers and Detectives met with the victim who was suffering from a severe stab wound to his right wrist.
Yarmouth Police Detectives, Patrol Officers, and Proactive Anti-Crime Unit Officers—led by Detective Eric Nuss—continued the investigation and spoke with a witness who was with the victim when he was attacked.
The witness reported that she was driving eastbound on Route 28 after having left Community Corrections in Hyannis. She said that she was driving her vehicle, and that her boyfriend—who had recently been released from prison—was in the passenger seat. She stated that when they traveled into Yarmouth on Route 28, a black mini-van pulled in behind them and continued to travel eastbound on Route 28. She stated that when they stopped at the traffic light at the intersection of Route 28 and Winslow Gray Road in West Yarmouth, she saw an individual walking up to the car on the passenger side. She said this same individual opened the passenger side door and leaned into the vehicle where the victim was seated and made a threatening statement. She noticed that there had been a stabbing with blood all over the vehicle and she traveled directly to the hospital.
The witness and victim provided a detailed description of the mini-van and the suspect. Officers Cape-wide were alerted and an intense search was conducted.
Yarmouth Police Proactive Anti-Crime Unit Officer Christopher VanNess reported that he was familiar with the description of the vehicle and suspect. Officer VanNess reported that he had seen Thomas Latanowich operating a black Dodge Caravan earlier in the day on Route 28 in West Yarmouth. Latanowich is well-known to Cape Cod Law Enforcement as a notorious and violent criminal with and currently out on probation with several criminal cases pending.
At approximately 4:00PM, PAC Unit Officer VanNess conducted a drive through of Swan Pond Village housing area in South Yarmouth and spotted the suspect and the suspect vehicle in parking lot. Officer VanNess conducted a stop of the vehicle, positively identified Latanowich—who was found to be armed with a knife—and placed him under arrest.
The suspect was transported to Yarmouth Police Department Headquarters. Members of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit provided evidence collection and processing services and the black Dodge Caravan was seized.
The suspect was held at Yarmouth Police Department Headquarters and transported this morning to the Barnstable District Court for arraignment.
The Yarmouth Police Department commends the work of all of the Police Officers involved in this attack and the prompt capture of a violent career criminal. We ask anyone who may have witnessed the daytime attack which occurred on Route 28 in West Yarmouth to please contact Yarmouth Police lead investigator Detective Eric Nuss at 508.775.0445 extension 2132.
Arrest: THOMAS M. LATANOWICH Age: 28
Address: 930 ALEWIFE CIRCLE SOUTH YARMOUTH
Charges: ASSAULT AND BATTERY WHILE ARMED WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON
ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CRIME
[This release was prepared and distributed by the Command Staff of the Yarmouth Police Department.]
12/15/2016
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© 2016 Robert Bastille, HyannisNews.com
