Cape Wide News for Sunday June 17th, 2012

Suspect hides from SCU in sewer drain tunnels
SCU nabs two on drugs and unruly bystander
HYANNIS - A busy weekend for the Barnstable Police Patrol Division and Barnstable Street Crime Unit (SCU) included the arrest of a West Yarmouth man that fled into a “storm drain” attempting to make his escape. Life imitated art as Justin M Peckham, 20, of West Yarmouth mimicked “John Rambo from First Blood” and “Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption”. However, Peckham's attempted escape did not fare as well. On Saturday at 5:49 p.m., Barnstable Police Officer Scott Leger responded to Sears at the Cape Cod Mall on Route 132 in Hyannis for a shoplifting suspect that had fled on foot from Sears Loss Prevention (SLP). Peckham was stopped as he attempted to load a 55” inch television set into a vehicle waiting outside. The vehicle was operated by a 20 yr male from South Yarmouth. Also in the vehicle was Peckham's two-year-old son. When first encountered by SLP, Peckham was cooperative and produced his identification. When he heard that Barnstable Police Officers were already responding, Peckham jumped into the waiting vehicle and told his associate to drive away. The associate refused and Peckham took off on foot leaving his identification and two-year-old son behind.

Peckham jumped over a “storm water pond” fence and could be heard splashing in the water. Responding police units and SLP searched the area but could not locate Peckham. It was later learned that Peckham had entered a storm drain and would hide out under ground in the storm drain pipes for almost four hours. At 9:30 p.m., BPD Dispatch received a call that a person was observed exiting a “manhole” in the CCM parking lot near Macy’s. The person observed exiting the “manhole” was later learned to be Peckham. Barnstable Patrol Unit and SCU members responded to the area. Peckham was arrested by SCU Member Peter Ginnetty on Hiramar Road, Hyannis. At the time of his arrest, Peckham had a “fist sized” rock on his person. Peckham told investigators he armed himself for fear rodents may try and attack him while he crawled through the storm drain system. He said he did not encounter any but did have to crawl over six or so dead ones.

Peckham had crawled over a couple hundred yards inside the storm drain pipe system in an attempt to avoid arrest and spent four hours underground. He reported no injuries and was transported to BPD for booking. He will be arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Monday June 18th on a single charge of Larceny Over $250.00. A report was filed with the Department of Children and Family relating to Peckham leaving his two-year-old son at Sears.

Barnstable SCU members also made a number of narcotics arrests over the weekend. During one of those arrests, an unruly intoxicated bystander was also arrested. On Friday, SCU members Barnstable Officer Keith Sexton and Barnstable Deputy Kim Saladino conducted a traffic stop on Barnstable Road near Main Street in Hyannis. The vehicle had a revoked registration and the operator, Caitlin Costello, 23, of Hyannis (left) was also operating on a revoked driver’s license. Costello and her passenger, William Walsh, 23, of Sandwich (right) are well known to SCU members for their involvement with narcotics. A follow up investigation resulted in the recovery of an uncapped hypodermic needle containing heroin belonging to Walsh. Various prescription medication and additional heroin was located inside the vehicle. Costello was charged with Possession Class E with intent to distribute, Possession Class A heroin, Possession Class B suboxone, Possession Class C clonazapam, Possession Class E substance (4 counts), Operating after revocation and Operating revoked registration

Walsh was charged with Possession Class A heroin. Both were transported to BPD to be booked and will be arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Monday.

It was during the Walso/Costello motor vehicle stop and subsequent investigation that SCU members encountered an unruly intoxicated pedestrian that began yelling at them. The pedestrian, Christopher R O’Connell, 25, of Sandwich had no connection to the vehicle stop. He was standing on the corner yelling at SCU members on scene. Despite numerous requests to move along, O’Connell refused despite the fact that there was a large police presence in the area. At the time, there were five SCU members and one uniformed Barnstable Officer on scene. Attempts to get the extremely intoxicated O’Connell to move along and stop creating a disturbance meet with negative results. The sidewalks were extremely crowed with pedestrians exiting and entering the two area bars. Any traffic stop and/or police action in the area of “bars” has the potential to be dangerous as the situation could escalate with intoxicated people interfering with police.

O’Connell's behavior and level of intoxication resulted in SCU members attempting to place him into protective custody. He resisted attempts to be handcuffed and became even more disorderly. He was eventually secured with handcuffs. Found on his person were two spring loaded knives and prescription medication. He was transported to BPD were his disorderly demeanor continued. O’Connell was charged with the following: Resisting arrest, Disorderly conduct, Open container of alcohol, Possession Class E substance-clonazepam, Possession Class B substance-suboxone, Possession of a dangerous weapon (spring loaded knife)

O’Connell is known to area law enforcement. He is currently awaiting trial in Falmouth District Court for Operating under the influence of liquor (3rd offense). He will be arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Monday.
Media release and mugshots furnished by Barnstable Police

16 corrections officers graduate sheriff's academy
BOURNE - Thirteen men and three women have joined the uniformed ranks at the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office as part of a common yet critical mission: Patrolling the house of correction and jail and keeping it as safe as possible for those inside.

“Corrections is the toughest job in law enforcement,” Sheriff James M. Cummings told the 16 newly-minted correctional academy graduates. “And on top of that maybe the least appreciated. But the veteran officers you’ll work with will come to appreciate what you do. Your supervisors and the command staff here will as well. You can take comfort in that.

“For you,” the Sheriff concluded, “putting the Cape’s most dangerous criminals together under one roof isn’t an academic exercise. It’s reality. They reside, per court order, at 6000 Sheriff’s Place (the jail’s address). And it’s your job to oversee them.”

The new recruits will bring some measure of relief to brother and sister officers, Sheriff Cummings noted, because now fewer will be forced to take involuntary overtimes.

Class president Timothy Connolly of Falmouth, a veteran of Navy boot camp, acknowledged being “pleasantly surprised by the intensity of this course. It was more than I thought it would be, frankly.”

Connolly said the healthy balance of academics, PT, and “hands on” interaction with inmates – always carefully supervised – assures the 10-week academy grads a solid start as they report for duty. Recruits learned, among other things, how to write reports, detect suicidal behavior, supervise and interact with inmates, defend themselves if need be, administer CPR, and be alert to inmate cons.

They were also schooled in fire safety, gang identification, ethics and professionalism, handcuffing and other restraint techniques. Getting a stream of eye-burning pepper spray square in the face rounded out one particular day’s training.

The ceremony was held outside the officers’ new workplace – the Barnstable County Correctional Facility. It was built and opened in 2004, accredited two years ago by the American Correctional Association, and will undergo its first re-accreditation audit later this month.

The class itself represents less than six percent of the original applicant pool of 268. Of the 16 who graduated today, one is from Plymouth County, one from Bristol County, and the rest from Barnstable County. The oldest is 46 and the three youngest are 23. Half are military veterans: three Army, three Navy, one Marine, and one Merchant Mariner. That’s a higher percentage than in any of the dozen recruit classes since Sheriff Cummings assumed office in 1999.

The last prior academy, meanwhile, graduated almost exactly a year ago and included 21 recruits. Nineteen of them remain on the job.
(A full list follows this pictorial)

Recruits raise flags to begin graduation ceremony

Recruits march to center stage, in this case outside the main lobby at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility in Bourne

Recruits no more, these 13 men and three women take their oath of office

Sandwich Police Officer and former Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Perkins (left) pins badge on friend and now fellow law enforcement brother Jason Bernardo of Buzzards Bay. Bernardo was one of 16 officers to be pinned individually by a friend or family member.

The academy’s officers, left to right: VP Bradley Montgomery of Swansea, Secretary Tracey LaGrassa of East Falmouth, President Tim Connolly of Falmouth, and Treasurer Christine Harrington of Sandwich.

New Officer Theodor Bowen of South Yarmouth shares a laugh with Sheriff James Cummings during Bowen’s pinning moment. The new officer won the Daniel M. Kelley award, given in memory of a former officer who drowned several years ago while fishing on a Wareham pond. The award is “best all around” recognition for an officer who is especially helpful to class mates during the 10-week academy.

Former Marine gunnery Sgt. James O’Connell is pinned by his invited guest. O’Connell, 44, was the academy’s second oldest graduate and one of eight military veterans – or half the class. And to say he was busy serving his country would be an understatement. The Marine explosives expert was posted to five separate countries during his career, three of them very dangerous ones – Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. Semper Fi.

Barnstable County Recruit Correctional Academy
Class of 2012-01

Barnstable
David Wiseman (Cotuit)

Bourne
Jason Bernardo (Buzzards Bay)

Dennis
Ryan Melia

Falmouth
Timothy Connolly
Tracey LaGrassa (East Falmouth)

Harwich
Mark Stewart
Jeremy Wiley (Harwichport)

Mashpee
Jason Gay

Sandwich
Christine Harrington
Paul Sandborg

Swansea (Bristol County)
Bradley Montgomery

Wareham (Plymouth County)
Matthew Caradimos (Onset)

Yarmouth
Theodor Bowen (South Yarmouth)
Adam Nawoichik (West Yarmouth)
James O’Connell (West Yarmouth)
Samantha Stanley (Yarmouthport)
Media release and photos furnished by Barnstable County Sheriff's Department

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