Police K9 Helps End Danvers, Peabody High-Speed Chase In Arrest

DANVERS, MA — A high-speed chase through three North Shore communities — which included a man driving his pickup truck through a metal fence down a 10-foot embankment in Middleton to evade police — ended with the help of State Police K9 Odin's pursuit near a Danvers cemetery.

State police said an investigation determined that Joseph Kennedy, 37, of Malden, took methamphetamine before police attempted to stop the red Chevrolet Silverado he was driving erratically in Middleton at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Peabody police picked up the pursuit near Lowell Street and, after terminating the chase, began pursuing the suspect again in the area of Pulaski Street at about 4:30.

(Also on Patch: High-Speed Chase Through Fence Ends Near Danvers Cemetery)

State police joined the chase as it continued into Danvers before it was called off again in the area of Centre Street and Route 95. The suspect was then seen driving onto Route 114 in Middleton and police followed him to a parking lot at the US Storage Facility.

State police said Trooper Nicholas Favaloro approached the truck with his gun drawn when the suspect burst ahead in the truck and rammed it through a metal fence and retaining wall, down a 10-foot drop, into the parking lot of the Minit Car Wash.

The truck was followed eastbound on Route 114 to Cemetery Road in Danvers where the suspect got out of the truck and fled into the woods. With the help of Odin, Favaloro was able to follow the suspect to a wooded area near the cemetery where he was arrested.

Kennedy was charged with operating under the influence of drugs, failure to stop for police, negligent operation of a vehicle, speeding and other driving violations.

Police said he was taken to Beverly Hospital for evaluation and then held without bail pending his arraignment, which was expected on Wednesday, at Salem District Court.