Police and Fire News

Barnstable Police nab three suspects wanted for house and auto break-ins; Co-workers raise cash to replace Christmas gifts

Barnstable Police nab three suspects wanted for house and auto break-ins

On John Winnell's (above) Facebook page he writes he is single, graduated from Redding High School in 1988, was born November 25, 1969 and is employed as sales manager at Saturn of Hyannis.
Dana Durfee's Facebook page states he graduated from Falmouth High School in 1993, was born March 5, 1975 and also works at Saturn of Hyannis.
If you can't get on Facebook, there is a facsimile of Winnell's page below.

Two men arrested after Cotuit break-in

COTUIT - The Barnstable Police Department has arrested three suspects in connection with a series of motor vehicle and house breaks throughout town.

During the afternoon of Monday, December 22nd, patrol officers and detectives responded to a reported break-in at 1204 Old Post Road in Cotuit.  The homeowner had been out for a short period of time and upon returning to the home, discovered that jewelry and coins had been stolen from the residence.

A neighbor also described a suspicious male walking in the neighborhood prior to the theft. While checking the area for the suspect, Detectives Dan Turner and John York observed John Winnell, 39, of Yarmouth, and Dana Durfee, 33 of Hyannis, inside a vehicle in the Cotuit Plaza parking lot.  Durfee fit the description of the suspicious male seen walking through the Old Post Road neighborhood.

Winnell and Durfee have been under investigation for the last couple of weeks and are suspected to have committed a number of recent thefts from vehicles and homes in town.

Although Winnell and Durfee say on their respective Facebook pages that they work at Saturn of Hyannis, the sales manager at the dealership said Friday that neither man has worked there since at least 2007.

Jeff Lasher said he terminated both men after a short stay: Winnell because items began disappearing from the service department after he had been hired, and Durfee because of punctuality issues. Lasher also said Winnell never was sales manager at the dealership.

Lasher also said Winnell has worked for a number of car dealerships on the Cape.

Barnstable detectives stopped Winnell and Durfee on Stevens Street in Hyannis and recovered the coins and jewerly at that time.  Durfee had the jewelry and coins in his lap during the stop.  Additional jewelry and cash not linked to the Old Post Road break-in was also recovered at the time.  It is suspected that the additional cash and jewerly was taken during an unreported break-in in the Old Post Road area.

Both men were  arrested and charged with Breaking and Entering With the Intent to Commit a Felony, Larceny in a Building and Possession of Burglarious Tools.  Durfee and Winnell were to be arraigned Wednesday morning in Barnstable District Court.

Based on evidence discovered during the investigation, the two men will be charged in the future with several additional motor vehicle break-ins.

Winnell arrested for theft in 2007

Winnell  is no stranger to Cape law enforcement.  Winnell was arrested by Yarmouth Police early in April of 2007 after stealing $280 in cash from a wallet in a parked car at the Mid Cape Racquet and Health Club on White's Path in Yarmouth.

A member of the health club staff had reported a suspicious man matching Winnell's description to police.  After begin confronted by officers, Winnell admitted to signing the guest register at the health club, using the false name Mike Bell.  See the original story here.

Third man arrested on Monday after Osterville break-in

OSTERVILLE - At 8:45 p.m. Monday evening, Patrol Officer Dan Ruth responded to a report of a suspicious person walking around the Crystal Lake Road area of Osterville.   In an attempt to locate the individual, Officer Ruth began a foot patrol at which time he heard someone walking in the snow beside 82 Barnard Road.

Officer Ruth subsequently stopped and questioned Michael Lee, 25, of Osterville, as he exited the property.  Lee, who was carrying a flashlight, could not provide the officer with a reasonable explanation for his being at the residence.

Lee's footprints led to a broken window on the side door of the residence.  Lee was placed under arrest and charged with Breaking and Entering with the Intent to Commit a Felony and Possession of Burglarious Tools.

Based on evidence discovered during the arrest, detectives will be charging Lee for other thefts that have taken place in Osterville. 

Barnstable town employees raise cash for co-worker after Christmas gifts are stolen

HYANNIS - Theresa Santos works with some really generous folks. Fellow town employees and members of the Barnstable Police Department raised over $800 to replace the $500 in Christmas gifts Santos had purchased for her family.

The gifts had been stolen from Santos' trunk on Monday after the frozen trunk popped open while Santos toiled away in the town hall offices.

John Winnell's Facebook page: