MSP K9 Apprehends Suspect After Series of Pursuits

At approximately 3:30 PM yesterday Massachusetts State Police Troop A was advised that Middleton Police were pursuing a red Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that had been operating erratically. The truck’s owner and suspected operator, JOSEPH KENNEDY, 37, of Malden, was reported to have a prior history of firearms offenses.

Peabody Police Officers picked up the pursuit in the area of Lowell Street and then terminated pursuit in the area of Prospect Street. At approximately 4:27 PM Peabody Officers located and re-engaged the suspect vehicle on Pulaski Street and began to pursue the suspect again.

At that time, Trooper Nicholas Favaloro of the Massachusetts State Police K9 Unit joined the pursuit in a secondary position behind Peabody Officers. The pursuit continued into Danvers and was terminated in the area of Centre Street and Route 95. Trooper Favaloro deactivated his cruiser’s lights and siren but observed the suspect vehicle ahead of him on Centre Street.

When the suspect turned onto Route 114 westbound, a Middleton Police Officer engaged the vehicle and initiated another pursuit. Trooper Favaloro again assumed a secondary position in the pursuit. In the area of Richardson’s Ice Cream, the suspect vehicle reversed direction, continued eastbound for a short distance, and pulled into a lot at the US Storage Centers facility. The Middleton Officer and Trooper Favaloro attempted to conduct a felony motor vehicle stop, but the suspect intentionally rammed his truck through a metal fence and retaining wall, sending the vehicle airborne into a 10-foot drop into the parking lot of Minit Car Wash. From there it continued to flee eastbound on 114 before turning onto Cemetery Road in Danvers.

The suspect, later confirmed to be JOSEPH KENNEDY, stopped the truck at the rear of the cemetery and began to flee on foot toward nearby woods. Trooper Favaloro followed him in his cruiser along a dirt trail and then deployed his K9 partner Odin from the cruiser. Odin caught up to and apprehended KENNEDY, and Trooper Favaloro placed him in handcuffs.

Subsequent investigation led Trooper Favaloro to determine that KENNEDY had recently taken methamphetamine. An ambulance responded and transported the suspect to Beverly Hospital, with a State Police escort, for evaluation. After he was examined, he was transported by Troopers to the State Police-Danvers Barracks, where he was booked on the following charges:

1. Operating Under the Influence of Drugs, 2nd Offense;

2. Failure to Stop for Police;

3. Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle;

4. Speeding;

5. Marked Lanes Violation; and

6. Motor Vehicle Equipment Violation.

A bail clerk ordered that KENNEDY be held without bail pending his arraignment, which was expected to happen today at Salem District Court. Middleton Police filed an Immediate Theat notification with the Registry of Motor Vehicles regarding KENNEDY’s license to operate.

A photo of Odin and the suspect’s booking photo are included with this release.

JOSEPH KENNEDY

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