Scratch Ticket Theft Leads To High-Speed Chase, Drug Bust

Two men and two women are facing multiple charges after going on a brief crime spree Sunday night that resulted in two innocent bystanders being sent to the hospital.

Timothy P. Lemery, 21, 711 Central St., Lowell, Shelby L. Catorio, 17, 97 Burnham Road, Lowell, Olivia Cowgill, 17, 1210 Hildreth St., Dracut and Michael T. Battle, 18, 105 Mount Washington St., Apt. 1, Lowell were arraigned Monday in Lowell District Court.

the incident began Sunday night around 10:30 p.m., when officers responded to a call from the reporting a theft. The clerk told police that a man had come into the store and ordered several scratch tickets, then ran from the store without paying. The clerk saw the man get into a dark colored Dodge Charger, which then headed down Shawsheen Street in the direction of Billerica.

While officers were investigating that crime, they received another call reporting another theft of scratch lottery tickets at

Cruisers were sent to Tedeschi’s and one of the officers in route spotted a dark Dodge Charger parked on a side street with its lights off.

According to the police report, as the officer approached the Charger, the vehicle accelerated and sped off at “a high rate of speed.”

The driver, later identified as Lemery, led police on a high-speed chase down some of the side streets off Main Street and managed to elude officers at one point.

However, moments later, an officer heading south on Main Street by Hinckley Road spotted the Charger traveling the opposite direction “at a high rate of speed with its headlights out.”

Lemery then lost control of the Charger, struck another car near 1609 Main St. and slammed into a snow bank before coming to a stop.

Two people in the vehicle hit by the Charger were taken to Saints Medical Center with what seemed to be minor injuries.  

Officers then searched the Charger and found the stolen scratch tickets and several baggies containing a “green leafy substance” that the officers believed to be Marijuana.

Lemery and his three passengers were arrested.

Lemery is charged with: Possession of a Class D drug with intent to distribute, two counts of larceny from a building, failure to stop for police, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign, marked lanes violation and conspiracy.

Battle is charged with possession of a Class D drug with intent to distribute, conspiracy and two counts of larceny from a building.

Catorio is charged with possession of a Class D drug with intent to distribute, conspiracy and two counts of larceny from a building.

Cowgill is charged with possession of a Class D drug with intent to distribute, conspiracy and two counts of larceny from a building.

The Tewksbury Police Department urges any citizens who suspect criminal activity to call the Dispatch Center at 978-851-7373.  If you wish to remain anonymous, call the Tip Line at 978-851-0175 or send an email to tewks_detectives@tewksbury-ma.gov