UPDATED: Police Chase Results in Two Arrests

By Joe Lipovich and Liz Taurasi

BURLINGTON, MA — Two Burlington schools were in a brief lockdown Wednesday morning following a police chase that ended with two suspects being arrested in both Woburn and Wilmington.

The two have been charged in connection with their failure to stop for police and motor vehicle offenses, State Police spokesperson Dave Procopio said.

Procopio also said police attempted to stop the vehicle as a part of an ongoing investigation.

At approximately 10:25 a.m. Wednesday morning, Wilmington Police received a call from Lawrence Police advising them they were pursing a black Jeep down Rte. 93 Southbound in Wilmington. Radio transmissions indicated the Jeep continued south on Rte. 93 and then South on Rte. 95 where it exited onto Rte. 38 in Woburn.

Police say at some point after the vehicle exited to Rte. 38 in Woburn, a passenger in the Jeep jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Reports indicate that the passenger of the jeep was arrested at the Woburn Racquet Club.

Police arrested the driver of the jeep in the parking lot of Shawsheen Elementary School in Wilmington.

The incident may be related to an incident out of Lawrence, according to reports, although it's unknown what crime the suspect or suspects are wanted for.

Memorial Elementary and the Marshall Simonds Middle School were in lockdown as a precaution.

Burlington Superintendent of Schools Eric Conti issued a statement just after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. He said Burlington Police notified school officials of an ongoing chase happening in Woburn and that as protocols dictate, the schools went into a controlled lockdown at both schools. Following the arrest of the suspects, the lockdown was lifted at 11:06 a.m.

"At the same time, we advised our other schools that this was taking place and we would notify them if the location of the chase changed. During a controlled lockdown, we make sure our exterior doors are secure and stop individuals from entering or leaving the building. At the same time, we continue activities inside the building. The Burlington Police Department visibly parked a police car in front of the middle school.

Elementary students were not informed that anything outside of the ordinary was happening. The middle school students were informed that there was a situation outside of the building and that they were safe.

Thank you to the Burlington Police for their immediate and clear communication. We are back in our regular routine."

Dave Procopio, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts State Police, said two suspects have been charged in connection with their failure to stop for police and motor vehicle offenses.

Procopio also stated that Police attempted to stop the vehicle as a part of an ongoing investigation.

The incident may be related to an incident out of Lawrence, according to reports, although it's unknown what crime the suspect or suspects are wanted for.

Check back with Patch for more information.