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Emergency responders work to free and treat a male who was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident on Rt. 9
Photo Credit: LPD
Shows the damage caused to the flatbed trailer after it was struck by a vehicle on Rt. 9.
Photo Credit: LPD
The missing copper piping that was taken during a break in at an abandoned house in Leicester this past week
Photo Credit: LPD
LEICESTER, Mass. — Being a police officer is like no other job in the world. It can best be described as having a ringside seat to the greatest show on earth every day. As you read the accounts set forth in the LPD update, it is important to remember: 1) We could not make this stuff up if we tried. 2) No one lies to the police.
The names of the individuals involved in the cases discussed in this column have not been published to protect their identity.
House Break & Car Break Alert
Leicester fared much better this past week with only one house break and one car break being reported. As you will see below the house break was into an abandon home where the suspect was looking for scrap metal and tools were stolen from the vehicle which was broken into.
While even one house or car break is too many the members of the LPD will continue to work diligently to deter and interdict this type of criminal activity.
Noteworthy Arrests and Incidents
A $480 Ticket - Unfortunately a local 19 year old found out just how expensive it can be when you get caught breaking the law. The operator of a motor vehicle received the ticket on Monday after he was clocked on radar at 68 mph in a posted 30 mph zone.
The operator’s speed, which was more than double the legal limit, subjected him to a $380.00 fine. But the operator’s bad luck did not stop with the speeding violation.
A check of the registration status on the rocket ship….I mean motor vehicle that the man was operating showed that the vehicle was unregistered. That added an additional $100.00 fine. It keeps getting worse for this guy……who had a $480.00 ticket in hand when the tow truck arrived for his vehicle.
You cannot operate an unregistered motor vehicle on a public way, and if the police permit you to operate the vehicle, the police can be held liable for any damage or injury you might cause. So add onto the fine the cost of the tow, which is approximately $100, and the insurance surcharges and it was a really bad and expensive day for this operator.
Car vs. TT Unit Snarls Rt. 9 Traffic – An accident last Thursday afternoon at the start of the rush hour closed Rt. 9 briefly causing a significant traffic back up.
The accident occurred at approximately 4:14 PM in the vicinity of Rt. 9 and Auburn Street when a 2001 Nissan traveling east crossed the center line and struck the rear end of a flatbed trailer traveling west on Rt. 9.
The operator of the Nissan was transported by ambulance to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center – University Campus for treatment of serious injuries that appear to be non-life threatening.
The force of the collision caused significant damage to the Nissan and heavily damaged the fourth axel on the tractor trailer unit resulting in the trailer having to be towed from the scene. The Nissan was also towed from the scene.
Based on the severity of the accident and the fact that it involved a tractor trailer unit, the LPD requested and received assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit.
The investigation into the cause of the accident remains ongoing but the LPD will be citing the operator of the Nissan.
What Was All The Commotion On Boyd Street? – The LPD received numerous calls from concerned residents after an incident on Boyd Street late Friday night.
At approximately 10:15 PM the LPD responded to a disturbance on Boyd Street where an intoxicated male was reported to be breaking out the windows of the home.
The LPD officers who responded to the call found that the man had fled into the woods prior to the LPD officers arriving at the scene. The man, who was identified as the estranged husband of the resident, had broken at least one window and knocked over a television set during the incident. Officers investigating the incident found blood at the scene indicating that the man had cut himself on the window glass.
Based upon what had occurred at the home and a number of other factors, the LPD requested and received assistance from the State Police K-9 unit. A number of MSP K-9 units came to the scene and attempted to track the suspect in the woods but were unable to locate him.
A final attempt was made to locate the suspect using the MSP Air wing (a.k.a. helicopter) and its onboard thermal imager which also proved unsuccessful in locating the man. On Monday morning the LPD applied for and received an arrest warrant for the man who is currently still at large.
Coppers Chasing Copper – This seems to be one of the new pastimes for police, and Leicester is no different from any other place. Last Thursday the LPD responded to a suspicious vehicle parked at a home that was currently in the foreclosure process.
The caller reported that the operator of a pickup truck that was at a house was taking copper from the house and loading it into the truck. The caller also reported that no sooner had the LPD Communication Center dispatched the call, the man fled from the house very abruptly…..can you say “HE HAS A SCANNER!!”
Fortunately the police were provided with a license plate for the vehicle and the LPD is actively looking for the suspect.
The investigating officer noted in his report that when he inspected the home he found a lot of copper piping which had been cut in the basement but the suspect left before being able to load most of it into his vehicle.
This case is clearly headed to court, thanks to a concerned neighbor who made a difference by calling 911.
Officer, Could You Please Give Me A Break – These were the words of a non-resident who was stopped on Thursday morning for speeding on River Street.
The operator, who was stopped for driving 44 mph in a 30 mph zone, was not bashful when he asked the officer to cut him some slack…..but we all know that this is not the way most first time offenders react when they get stopped…..Strike #1.
The officer checked out his suspicions and found that the man, who was asking for a break, was also operating without a license as his had been suspended after he was convicted of operating under the influence of alcohol….Big Strike #2!!
If that was not bad enough, the officer also found out that the man had an outstanding warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court on a prior case……Strike #3.
In a final act of desperation the man told the officer, “I need to get to work” as if that justifies him speeding, not showing up in court, and driving after his license was suspended for a drunk driving related issue. He went to jail and did not pass go and did not collect $200.
Disclaimer
The opinions set forth in this article are those of Chief James Hurley and do not represent the opinions of the Town of Leicester or other members of the Leicester Police Department.
Thank You
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the residents of the community for their continued support of the police department and also to thank all the men and women of the LPD for the professional and effective work they do in the community.
Chief Jim Hurley
