Officers Observed What Appeared To Be A Firearm ...

A release from the Wakefield Police Department with January's Monthly Report:

On January 17 Officer John Whaley was assigned to patrol when he received a phone call from Officer Shane Pelletier who was working a detail advising him that a male party from Auburn Street with outstanding warrants and was observed walking into The Savings Bank. Officer Whaley responded to the area and observed the male party enter a blue Ford F-250. Officer Whaley began to follow the vehicle and the operator, who also had a suspended driver’s license, as he continued west on Chestnut Street. This male subject was well known to this department and has been violent towards our officers in the past. As Officer Whaley attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop, the operator continued on Chestnut Street, made a left turn onto Cedar Street, and then a left onto Auburn Street. At this time he stopped the truck in front of his residence and ran on foot into the backyard. A large group of family members were already outside and were yelling and preventing officers from entering the yard. Multiple officers arrived on scene for back-up as many family members continued with their belligerent behavior. The suspect ran through backyards and eventually his in a shed behind his residence. After a brief negotiation, he exited the shed and was taken into custody. The belligerent behavior by family members continued as officers escorted the subject into a police cruiser.

On January 19 Officer Rossicone was dispatched to the Quick-Mart located at the intersection of Lowell Street and Vernon Street for a report of a past indecent exposure. Upon arrival he spoke to an adult female who advised that she had entered the store a short time ago to purchase a lottery ticket. During this time she observed a male customer lingering to her left and had his hands down his pants, briefly exposing himself. She exited the store and entered her vehicle. Shortly thereafter the male party exited the store and again exposed himself to her and fled on foot towards Lowell Street where she lost sight of him. Officer Rossicone was able to view the store video and establish a suspect. Wakefield Detectives Chris Grace and Jack Ryan were able to track him down at a later time and conduct an interview/interrogation. Following this, they were able to establish probable cause to charge him with two counts of Open and Gross Lewdness.

On January 25 Detectives Chris Grace and Jack Ryan along with members of the Southern Middlesex Drug Task Force were conducting surveillance in the area of #538 Salem Street on a male party that they believed would be making a delivery of narcotics to that location. A short time later they observed a gray Honda CRV pull up to another vehicle. A female party exited the second vehicle, entered the CRV, and exited after a brief time. Detectives spoke with the female and confirmed that she had purchased heroin from the male operator. As detectives approached the CRV, the suspect drove over a curb and grassy area and fled on Salem Street towards Lynnfield. The operator refused to stop as it continued onto Route 128 North and then exited onto Route 1 south where he became stuck in traffic. Detectives were able to approach the vehicle and after a brief struggle the male party out of Lynn was taken into custody.

On January 28 Officer John Whaley was traveling northbound on MacArthur Road in Stoneham which merges with Park Avenue in Wakefield when his attention was drawn to drawn to a gray Ford Edge that was operating with no headlights or taillights illuminated. Concerned that this vehicle was approaching a bend in the road, he conducted a motor vehicle stop. He exited his unmarked cruiser and approached the male operator. While walking past the vehicle he shined his duty flashlight into the rear compartment and observed a glass smoking pipe on the floor. The operator appeared extremely nervous as his hands were trembling, his speech was broken up, and he was breathing heavily. The subject advised Officer Whaley that the vehicle was a rental, however there was no proof of a rental agreement. Officer Whaley was able to detect a strong odor of raw marijuana emanating from the vehicle and the operator was not providing plausible answerers to routine questions. As back-up arrived, officers observed what appeared to be a firearm on the floor in front passenger compartment. This was later determined to be a paint ball gun that resembled a firearm. After further investigation, officers located methamphetamine pills, marijuana, and Ativan pills all packaged for distribution. The male party from Somerville is facing multiple charges through Malden District Court.