Police and Fire News

Unregistered driver injured in South Dennis single-car crash

Driver cited at the scene before being transported to Cape Cod Hospital

SOUTH DENNIS - A Dennisport woman was cited at the scene of a single-car crash early Friday morning before being transported to Cape Cod Hospital. According to a Dennis police release, 24-year-old Deirdre Jordan of 36 Summer Street in Dennisport was injured on Great Western Road when she failed to navigate a sharp left curve sending her 2008 Chevrolet Aveo off the road, into several trees, snapping a utility pole guide wire, then coming to stop in a driveway.

When Officers Matt Turner and Matt Swett responded to the 911 call around 1:20 a.m., they found Ms. Jordan still seated and belted in the car in the driveway of the home at 17 Great Western Road.

Ms. Jordan was cited at the scene for failure to drive within marked lanes and operating an uninsured and unregistered motor vehicle. She was transported to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis for the treatment of non life-threatening injuries, police said. The Chevy Aveo was heavily damaged in the crash.

Driver with suspended license bagged doing 80 on White's Path in South Yarmouth

South Yarmouth man racks up motor vehicle and drug charges during incident

Jeremy W. Garbitt. YPD booking photo.SOUTH YARMOUTH - A South Yarmouth man was arrested last night after being caught speeding and driving erratically on White's Path in South Yarmouth. According to a Yarmouth police release, while on White's Path, Patrol Investigator Scott Lundegren watched as the driver of a car traveling west abruptly swerved into the opposite lane across the double yellow line, then accelerated to pass the car in front of him.

The driver of the passed car veered to the right to avoid a collision, according to police.  Patrol Investigator Lundegren clocked the passing car's speed at 82 mph.

When Patrol Investigator Lundegren pulled over the car and approached the driver, he was told by the driver, identified as 28-year-old Jeremy W. Garbitt of 40 White's Path, that he didn't have a license and "shouldn't be driving."  Garbitt apologized to the officer and admitted to driving over 80 mph, police said.

It was confirmed that Garbitt's Massachusetts driver's license was suspended for a variety of prior traffic offenses.  While inventorying his car, Patrol Investigator Lundegren and Patrol Officer Kevin Antonovitch, who arrived on scene for backup, found four 15 mg Percocet tablets in a clear baggie, which Garbitt admitted to using.

Garbitt was placed under arrest and transported to the Yarmouth Police Station where he was charged with speeding, operating a motor vehicle to endanger, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and possession of a Class B controlled substance (Percocet).

He was scheduled for arraignment in Barnstable District Court Thursday. Garbitt has had other scrapes with the Dennis and Yarmouth police for drug and burglary-related charges.

Three injured in Sandwich van vs. SUV-crossover

One victim's injuries considered serious, but not life-threatening

The collision caused significant damage to the front end of both vehicles. David Curran photo.

SANDWICH - Three people were injured Thursday when a Cape Abilities handicapped-accessible van and an SUV-crossover collided at the intersection of Race Lane and Powderhorn Way in Sandwich around 9:45 a.m.

According to a fire official at the scene, one of the victim's injuries was serious, but not life-threatening.  Both drivers and a passenger in the car were transported to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.

There were no passengers in the Cape Abilities van at the time of the crash. Cape Abilities has provided support for Cape Codders with disabilities for the past 40 years.

Sandwich police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Photo and report by David. G. Curran.

Heroin dealer arrested at Yarmouth motel Wednesday evening

Police confiscate heroin and over $4,500 in cash

Kenneth Trenholmage. YPD booking photo.YARMOUTH - An alleged Yarmouth heroin dealer was taken into custody Wednesday evening after members of the Cape Cod Drug Task Force and Yarmouth detectives served a search warrant at his motel room.  According to a Yarmouth police release, a warrant from Falmouth District Court was obtained by authorities to search the motel room of 22-year-old Kenneth Trenholmage.  The court issued the warrant based on an extensive investigation into the distribution of heroin.

Around 7 p.m. task force members and detectives executed the warrant and confiscated heroin, suboxone, drug paraphernalia and $4,507 in cash.  Trenholmage was placed under arrest and transported to the Yarmouth Police Station where he was processed and charged with felony possession with intent to distribute a Class A substance (heroin) and felony possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance (suboxone).

Trenholmage is scheduled for arraignment in Barnstable District Court Thursday.

69-year-old Ludlow man dies in I-195 mishap

Hit standing alongside his car at 8:45 p.m.

MARION -State Police are investigating a crash on Route 195 Wednesday night that has left one motorist dead. A 69-year-old Ludlow man was fatally injured when his disabled car was hit by a passing vehicle on Route 195 in Marion.

Edward Widor was apparently standing beside his disabled vehicle about a half-mile east of Exit 20 on Route 195 when it was struck shortly before 8:45 p.m. Wednesday according to a press release issued by the Massachusetts State Police.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Paul Doyle indicates that Widor’s 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was facing west, partially in the right travel lane and partially in the breakdown lane, when it was hit by a 2004 Suburu Forester driven by a 69-year-old Acushnet man.

Two passengers in Widor’s car, a 56-year-old Ludlow woman and a 33-year-old Sagamore woman, suffered minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

Photo by David G. Curran.

Automated license plate reader runs down stolen car in Hyannis

Technology makes it harder to get away with breaking the law

   The automated license plate reader affixed to the trunk of BPD cruiser E227. BPD photo.

HYANNIS - Through the use of license plate reading technology, a stolen vehicle was located on Main Street in Hyannis early Wednesday.  According to a Barnstable police release, Officer David Foley was patrolling Main Street around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, when the alarm of the automated license plate reader installed in his cruiser sounded indicating a plate had been recognized as belonging to a stolen vehicle.

The alarm sounded while Officer Foley was checking the parking lot at 156 Main Street.  Officer Foley confirmed that the car and plate in the lot were in fact the same as reported stolen on Christmas Eve to Barnstable police.

The owner of the stolen car was notified and the car was towed to the Barnstable Police Station where it will be processed for evidence, according to police.

The automated license plate reader in Barnstable cruiser E227 constantly runs plates on vehicles as it passes checking for valid registrations, stolen vehicles and if either a vehicle or the vehicle's owner are wanted by authorities.

Police officer injured in Wareham Cranberry Highway crash Wednesday

Driver struck Wareham police pickup, two other vehicles and a building

WAREHAM -  The driver of a Ford Mustang and a Wareham police officer were injured in a Cranberry Highway crash in Wareham Wednesday morning around 9:30 a.m. According to a Wareham police officer at the scene, the driver of a convertible Ford Mustang collided with a police pickup truck and two other vehicles, then crashed into the Total Auto Concepts store at 2667 Cranberry Highway. 

Both the police officer and the driver of the Mustang, who is reportedly a college student, were transported to the hospital after the crash. The extent of their injuries is unknown.

It is unknown at this time if the driver of the Mustang will be charged.  All four vehicles and the auto parts shop were damaged in the incident. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Photo, video and report by David G. Curran.

Woman flown to Boston hospital after fall from 2nd floor balcony in Wellfleet

Injured woman transported by ambulance to Hyannis, then to Boston by helicopter

WELLFLEET - A woman was flown by MedFlight helicopter to Boston Monday morning after falling from the second floor balcony of a Wellfleet home.  Around 9:30 a.m., according to a Wellfleet police release, dispatch received a 911 call that a woman had fallen from the second floor balcony of a home in town. Police have not disclosed the address of the home.

Wellfleet police and firefighters responded to the home to assist the victim identified as 48-year-old Wendy Meads.  Based on her injuries, firefighters requested a MedFlight helicopter.  Fighterfighters transported Ms. Meads to Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis by ambulance to meet the helicopter. Ms. Meads was then flown to Brigham and Woman's Hospital in Boston.

Police have yet to release the cause of the fall.  Ms. Meads' condition is not known at this time.

Car crashes into cottage on Christmas in Wareham

No injuries in one-car mishap, but a lousy way to celebrate the holiday

WAREHAM -There were no injuries after the driver of a black sedan plowed into a cottage on Glenn Charlie Road on Christmas Day around 12:30 p.m. This little-used road runs past the upper reaches of Mill Pond on the road between East Wareham and South Plymouth.

The impact of the crash caused a section of the house to move approximately five feet. 

The cottage was unoccupied at the time. 

Wareham Police are investigating the accident. 

Photo by David G. Curran. Google maps.

Woman popped on pill and pot possession after Dennis traffic stop

Hyannis woman tries (and fails) to shake Dennis police officer after attempted stop for speeding

SOUTH DENNIS - A Hyannis woman was arrested early Friday morning on multiple drug charges after attemping and failing to shake a Dennis police officer.  Around 2 a.m., according to a Dennis police release, Patrol Officer Russ Francis attempted to pull over the speeding driver of a Ford Explorer on Main Street in South Dennis.

The driver of the Explorer refused to stop for Officer Francis and instead, turned off the SUV's headlights and sped up.  Officer Francis caught a flash of the vehicle's brake light when the driver attempted to hide in an Upper County Road driveway.

The driver, identified as 23-year-old Maria-Jose Quiroz of Hyannis, ditched the SUV and tried to flee on foot, but according to police, was apprehended immediately.

While search both Quiroz and the Explorer, police discovered over 150 different prescription pills, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Quiroz was placed under arrest and charged with failure to stop for police, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a Class B drug, possession fo a Class C drug and three counts of possession of a Class E drug. She was released on $250 cash bail and is scheduled for arraignment in Orleans District Court Friday.