Police and Fire News

Fire damages Falmouth Ballymeade home

     ^{Residents look on as firefighters work on a house fire in Falmouth}
FALMOUTH - Fire caused extensive damage to a house in the gated Ballymeade development in Falmouth Saturday afternoon. The fire started sometime around 1 PM at the home on Summit Lane off Falmouth Woods Road. Mutual aid from Bourne was called to help out.

The fire burned throught the roof over the garage portion of the home. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. The cause of the fire is under investigation.  Photos by R. Copley.

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Accident closes Route 6, two taken to hospital

Suicide Alley redux; What a mess  Saturday morning
HARWICH - Two people were transported to Cape Cod Hospital Saturday morning after a three vehicle crash on Route 6 at exit 10 eastbound in Harwich.

The bottom photo is another of the blue Blazer showing the cracked windshield on the passenger side where someone's head hit.

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Bourne MC crash; Hyannis, Yarmouth crashes, New fire chief in Harwich

Motorcyclist critically injured in Bourne crash
BOURNE - A motorcycle operator was critically injured in a crash late Friday night. The crash happened about 11:30 PM on County Road near Scraggy Neck Road. The victim 43-year old Steven Desharnais of Bourne was rushed to Falmouth Hospital aafter rescuers reportedly found him unconscious under his motorcycle. A medical helicopter was reportedly called to the hospital which flew him to Boston Medical Center in Boston. Bourne Police are investigating. 

Two arrested on drug offenses
BARNSTABLE - Two Hyannis men were arrested on drug charges as part of an ongoing investigation. The Times reports 34-year old Steven Green and 37-year old Scott Travers were arrested on Friday. Police say they are major players in the drug trafficking from Providence to the Cape. Green was charged with four counts of distributing heroin and one count of distributing cocaine. Travers was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute subsequent offense. The arrest came as part of a two month investigation by Barnstable, Falmouth and Yarmouth detectives.

Barnstable Police investigate head on crash in Hyannis

     ^{Two vehicles collided head on on Craigville Beach Road in Hyannis.}
HYANNIS - Barnstable Police are investigating a head on crash on Craigville Beach Road about 1:45 PM.

A Cadillac Escolade collided with a Nissan Altima. A family in the SUV escaped uninjured but at least one person in the car was taken to Cape Cod Hospital.

Further details were not immediately available.

Photos by Frank Paparo.

Crash snarls Route 6A traffic

     ^{The scene of a two car crash on Route 6A in Yarmouthport.}
YARMOUTH - A two car crash in Yarmouthport this afternoon cut traffic on Route 6A to one lane for about a half hour.

One crash victim is seen to right being treated by a Yarmouth paramedic. Yarmouth Police are investigating the crash.

In a related story two people were injured in a two vehicle crash on Route 28 near West Yarmouth Road around 6 PM. That crash is also under investigation by Yarmouth Police. Further details were not immediately available.

Photos by R. Copley.

Harwich gets new fire chief

     ^{Family and Friends look on as William L. Flynn Jr. is sworn in as Harwich Fire Chief.}
HARWICH - The town of Harwich has a new fire chief. Town clerk Anita Doucette swore in William L. Flynn Jr. in a ceremony Friday.

Flynn is taking over for outgoing Chief William Remilliard.

At the same ceremony Captain Norman Clarke (right) was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief.  

Photos by Jake O'Callaghan.

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Fishing trawler burns in Provincetown

     ^{Smoke and flames pour from the fishing vessel Ancora Praia at Macmillan Wharf in Ptown.}
PROVINCETOWN - Fire heavily damaged one of the last remaining wooden fishing trawlers in Provincetown Friday morning. The Harbormaster noticed the smoke coming fr0m the cabin and called in the alarm about 8:35 AM. Firefighters arrived to find the scene above. Everyone made it off the vessel okay. It was a difficult fire taking about two hours to get under control as tremendous heat built up below decks and fire extended along the railing of the ship. Four firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion all are expected to be fine.

U. S. Coast Guard vessels and personnel were also on scene assisting. They also deployed booms to contain any pollution. A pump kept the vessel afloat.

Fire investigators believe workers using a torch to make repairs on the boat may have accidentally sparked the blaze. A mutual aid engine from Truro covered the Provincetown station.

Photos by Tim Caldwell.

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Carnival worker arrested on 52 warrants; Bicyclist struck by municipal vehicle in Barnstable

Carnival worker arrested on 52 warrants
HYANNIS - A worker at a traveling carnival was arrested in Hyannis Monday. Police say 24-year old Matthew Johnson of Worcester apparently tricked Fiesta Shows into hiring him by giving them a false social security number. He had been working for less than two weeks for the carnival which is this week is operating behind the Cape Cod Mall. The warrants are for various charges including breaking and entering, larceny and vandalism. Johnson was also charged with failing to register as a sex offender. He is due to be arraigned today in Barnstable District Court. Mugshot furnished by Barnstable Police.   See the Yahoo video here.

Bicyclist struck by municipal van in Barnstable

     ^{Barnstable Police mark where a bicyclist was struck by red municipal van in rear.}
BARNSTABLE - A teen bicyclist was taken to Cape Cod Hospital after his bike was apparently struck by a Town of Barnstable Water Pollution Control van at Milkway and Freezer Road around noon. The van came to a stop a short distance down the road against the sidewalk.

Barnstable Police are investigating how the collision occurred. The injuries do not appear life threatening. The area was closed to traffic for about a half hour. Further details were not immediately available. Photos by Frank Paparo.

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White's Path crashes

Two crashes on White's Path in Yarmouth
YARMOUTH - Two crashes within 30 minutes of each other on White Path kept Yarmouth and Dennis rescuers busy Thursday:

This first crash happened around noon at the intersection of North Dennis Road where a Dodge Ram pickup and a Saturn Vue collided head on. Three ambulances responded to the scene although its not clear how serious the injuries were;

About 30 minutes late the second crash at the other end of White's Path at Union Street left this dramatic scene. A Buick sedan was squashed between the back of a tractor trailer and a pickup truck. Reports say two people were injured. Yarmouth Police are investigating both crashes. Further details were not immediately available. Photos courtesy of YFD.  

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Elderly driver hits baby stroller in Yarmouth crosswalk; morning commute stalled again

   ^{Yarmouth Chief of Police Peter Carnes and an unidentified patrol officer examine the scene where an elderly driver hit a stroller with a small child in it on Route 28 in S. Yarmouth. Photo by R. Copley.}

Elderly driver hits baby stroller in South Yarmouth crosswalk
SOUTH YARMOUTH - A confused elderly person apparently hit a baby stroller with a small child in it while in the crosswalk in front of the Bass River Sports World on Route 28 in South Yarmouth.

A eyewitness tells CWN there may have been a small child alongside the stroller who was actually hit. The child was transported to Cape Cod Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The driver of the car a Pontiac Sunbird (right) was not injured but the mother who reportedly threw herself in front of her kid(s) was also taken to CCH for evaluation.

Yarmouth Police identified the mother as Ann Marie Jacobson of Middleoboro and confirmed she and her son were taken to CCH with non life threatening injuries. The driver of the car was identified as Joan Kanis of Yarmouth. Kanis was cited for operating to endanger and failing to yield at a crosswalk.

Route 28 was partially closed for the accident reconstruction team to do their work.

  ^{An unidentified officer interviews possible witnesses.}

 All photos by R. Copley.

Several people escape serious injury in another Route 6 crash
BARNSTABLE - Several people apparently escaped serious injury after a multi car crash that for the second morning in a row brought the eastbound commute to a crawl. The crash happened around 7:45 AM between exits 5-4. State Police are investigating.

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Two arrested for OUI overnight; Man pulled from Bass River; Tense standoff comes to peaceful end; 11 treated after Eastham crash

Man pulled from Bass River after falling from boat
YARMOUTH - A man is lucky to be alive after a frightening ordeal. About 11:30 PM Tuesday the man launched his dinghy in Bass River to get to his sailboat. A caller reported to 911 that the man had not arrived at his boat and his dinghy was floating unoccupied in the current. Rescuers from Dennis and Yarmouth rushed to Packett's Landing near the Bass River Bridge. Dennis firefighters Lacross and Hersey in a rescue boat discovered the 61-year old man clinging to a float in the river. He was brought ashore cold and tired  but uninjured. He was taken to CCH to evaluated. Photo by R. Copley.

Standoff comes to peaceful end in Marstons Mills

     ^{Police were called to 1567 Race Ln. after a man allegedly threatened people with a knife.}
MARSTONS MILLS - A tense standoff that lasted about four hours and shut down a busy street during the afternoon commute came to a peaceful end. The call came in around 3 PM that a man was allegedly threatening someone in the house with a knife. Police evacuated everyone from the residence including several children and shut down Race Lane in the area.

A SWAT like unit surrounded the house and after about 4 hours the suspect Michael W. Perry (right) surrendered to police. Barnstable Police Sgt. Sean Sweeney (inset) told CWN Perry is being charged with assault, and assault with a dangerous weapon. No one was injured during the incident. Photos by Frank Paparo.

11 evaluated after Eastham crash

EASTHAM - Eleven people were evaluated at the scene after a collision between two vans in Eastham shortly after 8 PM. A Chrysler Pacifica and a Dodge Caravan collided at Route 6 and Brackett Road. Eastham Police are investigating the cause of the crash. Photo by Tim Caldwell.

Two arrested for OUI in separate incidents
YARMOUTH -  A busy overnight for Massachusetts State Police Trooper Matt Covino as he arrests two drivers for OUI in separate incidents on the Mid-Cape Highway early Wednesday morning. The first happened shortly after midnight. Reports came in of a driver going east in the westbound lanes from exit 4. The  vehicle was stopped by exit 6 and 24-year old Andrew J. Murphy of Hingham was arrested for operating under the influence (OUI), operating to endanger and other MV charges. About 3 hours later reports came in of debris in the road near exit 8. When police arrived they discovered a car door wedged in a guardrail. Investigation led to the discovery of the suspect vehicle at a gas station on Station Avenue. The driver 34-year Thomas J. O'Connell of Hyannis was arrrested for OUI, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and marked lanes violation as well as other MV charges. He also reportedly had an outstanding warrant for a previous OUI. 

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UPDATE: Two fatal crashes this AM in Barnstable & Dennis

   ^{The view from Route 132 in Barnstable of the backup on the Route 6 overpass.} 

Update: On fatal Barnstable Crash
BARNSTABLE - About 5:45 AM this morning State Police and rescue teams responded to a rollover motor vehicle accident on Route 6 down the median at the Barnstable/Yarmouth line.

One person was medflighted to Boston and one was DOA at the scene. (authorities have now identified the victims-see previous story below). 

Route 6 was tied up and backed up to Exit 6 for about two or three hours and drivers were standing outside their cars until 9:30am at which time the vehicle from the accident was towed from the scene. 

 
   ^{Photos show the extensive damage to the vehicle.} 

The Times reports all the three girls in the two fatal crashes in this edition were friends and often hung out together (see related stories below). Police are still investigating both crashes but say speed appears to be a factor in both. 

All photos above by Frank Paparo.

See the NECN video of both crash scenes here. 

Fatal crash stymies eastbound commute on Route 6
BARNSTABLE - A crash shortly before 6 AM on Route 6 eastbound just before exit 7 choked the morning commute to the outer Cape to a near standstill.

A Subaru Forester wound up on its roof in the median. Barnstable and Yarmouth rescuers extricated the passenger 18-year old Emily M. Sylvia of Davenport, FL using the Jaws of Life.

A Medflight helicopter (in photo on right behind police cars) landed on the highway and flew Sylvia to Brighan & Women's Hospital in Boston. The driver 18-year old Nicole V. Scleparis of Plymouth also had to be extricated from the wreckage. Tragically Scleparis was pronounced dead at the scene. Traffic was still down to the breakdown lane while reconstruction officers investigated the crash. Traffic was backed up several miles at one point. Photo by R. Copley.

Fatal crash reported in Dennis
DENNIS - A crash in Dennis about 5:30 AM shut down Old Chatham Road for some 2 1/2 hours. The scene was near the Harwich line. Reports say the Mercury Grand Marquis was split in two by the impact against a tree. The driver 18-year old Kelly Ann Brennan of Harwich was killed. Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement Council's Accident Reconstruction Unit crews were on scene investigating for some time. We'll bring you further details as we get them. 

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Yarmouth cop reportedly assaulted; Dennis PD seeks A/C thieves; Taxi crash in Hyannis

Yarmouth Police officer reportedly assaulted
Due to incorrect information supplied to CWN a previous version of this story was inaccurate. CWN regrets the error.
YARMOUTH - A Yarmouth Police officer was reportedly hurt on the job Monday evening. We're still checking with Yarmouth Police for details but public court documents show 46-year old Richard Stotter of Yarmouth was arrested for assault and battery with a dangeous weapon (shod foot), three counts assault and battery of a police officer, four counts assault with a dangerous weapon, a civil rights violation, intimidating a witness, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and resisting arrest. The officer is expected to be okay. Again we'll bring you further details as we get them from Yarmouth Police. 

Dennis Police seek air conditioner thieves
DENNIS - Dennis Police are looking for these two men in connection with the theft of two air conditioners from the CVS/Pharmacy at the Patriot Square Plaza on Saturday afternoon. Police tell CWN The suspects entered the store on the first occasion separately.  After surveilling the store for about ten minutes one of the suspects was observed picking up an air conditioner from a stack in the entranceway, and exiting into the mall parking lot. Both subjects returned approximately 10 minutes later and after a brief look around the store the second suspect is observed to pick up a second air conditioner and both individuals were observed leaving the store together. The suspects were caught on surveillance video.

Suspect#1 is described as a white male, mid-late 40's with graying hair, approximately 6' in height with a medium build.  In the first instance he is seen wearing a green short sleeved pull over jersey, a dark colored baseball cap, black shorts and shoes.  During the second theft he has discarded the pullover jersey and ball cap and is observed to be wearing a white T-shirt and sun glasses along with the black shorts and shoes.

Suspect#2 is described as a white male, mid-late 40's, dark hair, 5'10"-6' in height with a stocky build.  He is wearing a green short-sleeve shirt, dark shorts and white sneakers. Anyone with information concerning the theft is asked to call the Dennis Police Department at 508-394-1315. Images supplied by Dennis Police, click images to enlarge.

Taxi crash in Hyannis

HYANNIS - A Town Taxi driver was taken to CCH to be checked out after his cab struck a utility pole in Hyannis. The crash happened about 3:15 PM on Ocean Street by the Kennedy Memorial. The pole was still standing but the front of the taxi appeared totalled. The driver is seen in a precautionary neck brace being put on a stretcher by Hyannis rescue personnel. Photo by Tim Caldwell.

Man arrested for fourth OUI in Falmouth
FALMOUTH - Police charged a local man with his foruth offense OUI Sunday. The Times reports 50-year old Michael Slattery of Falmouth was found passed out behind the wheel early Sunday morning. He reportedly failed sobriety tests.

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