BREWSTER - State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, Brewster Deputy Fire Chief William Harrison, and Brewster Police Chief Richard J. Koch Jr. have announced the arrest of Adam Finnegan, 29, of Brewster for the 3 a.m. fire at the Bible Alliance Church at 3600 Main Street (Route 6A) in Brewster. He will be charged on one count of burning a building.
Coan said, “Whenever there is a fire in a house of worship, it has a tremendous impact on the fabric of a community. I applaud the investigative team for working methodically and as quickly as possible to arrest the person they believe is responsible for this crime.”
Chief Koch said, “There is no indication that this fire is connected to any other fire.”
The fire was jointly investigated by officers from the Brewster Police Department, members of the Brewster Fire Department and State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF frequently joins the fire investigation team in Massachusetts for non-residential fires. The Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office will be prosecuting this case and all future press statements will come from that office.
Coan reiterated that this fire is not connected to the on-going series of arson fires in southeastern Massachusetts that his office is investigating. The public is asked to continue to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities, especially around vacant or abandoned properties to local police. If anyone has information about a fire, please call the Arson Hotline, at 1-800-682-9229, confidentially, 24 hours a day.
Media release furnished by Mass Department of Fire Services, photo by Jake O'Callaghan/CWN
1 dead, 2 injured in Barnstable crash
BARNSTABLE - One person was killed, two people were injured, in a two-vehicle crash in Barnstable about 10:30 p.m. Friday night. A Ford Explorer collided with an Oldsmobile Cutlass on Route 132 at the eastbound ramp to Route 6. The Explorer then rolled over on its side. A passenger in the Olds, 24-year-old Luke Marshall of Brewster was trapped in the car and had to be extricated. He was then rushed to Cape Cod Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Olds, 28-year-old Carolyn Pace of Chatham was taken to CCH with injuries described as serious but non life-threatening. The Explorer driver, a 17-year-old from Sandwich who was not immediately identified was also taken to CCH with unknown injuries. West Barnstable and Hyannis rescuers assisted at the scene. State and Barnstable Police are investigating the cause of the crash. Route 132 and the Route 6 eastbound ramp were closed until the on-scene investigation was complete and the vehicles were removed.
Photos by CWN associate John P. CarrollMan wanted for crime spree nabbed
BARNSTABLE - For the last two weeks, Barnstable Detectives have been searching for Derrick Degrace, 45, of Mashpee. Degrace, who has a long and notorious criminal record reflecting 249 criminal arraignments dating back to 1985, was wanted for several different crimes committed in and around Barnstable.On November 10th, Degrace allegedly broke into a motor vehicle in a Hyannis parking lot and stole the vehicle owner’s checkbook. Over the next two days, Degrace forged six different checks and cashed them at various banks in Hyannis, Mashpee, and Falmouth.
On November 19th, Degrace entered a Bank of America branch in Hyannis and attempted to cash another fraudulent check. While bank employees were investigating, Degrace became suspicious and started to leave the bank. On his way out of the bank, Degrace encountered a customer that was in the process of counting out a quantity of cash that was to be deposited. Degrace allegedly grabbed the cash (approximately $1,300) from the customer and ran from the bank.
Last Wednesday at approximately 2 p.m., Degrace entered the Stop and Shop in Marstons Mills where he allegedly approached a 78-year-old Centerville woman who was shopping and subsequently grabbed the victim's purse from the shopping cart and ran from the store. The victim and a witness to the crime chased Degrace into the parking lot where he escaped after jumping into a waiting motor vehicle.
At approximately noon Thursday, Barnstable Detective Jason Laber and Falmouth Detective Ron Carpenter developed information which led to Degrace’s location. Degrace was located and placed under arrest in Falmouth. Degrace was transported to the BPD and charged with the following offenses:
11/10 incident - B&E Motor Vehicle, Forgery (6 counts), Uttering a Forged Instrument (6 counts), Larceny Pursuant to a Single Scheme (over $250).
11-19 incident - Larceny From a Person
11-28 incident – Larceny From a Person Over 65 years Old
Media release and mugshot furnished by Barnstable Police
Pelican rescued in Provincetown
PROVINCETOWN - An unusual sight at MacMillan Wharf Friday: Provincetown Animal Control Officer Ruth Anne Cowing discovered a pelican in distress.Pelicans are very rare this far north, especially this time of year.
ACO Cowing (right) contacted Wildcare who were able to tend to the bird.
Cowing says the bird appears in good shape and all are hopeful for a full recovery and rerelease into the wild.
Photos furnished by Provincetown Animal Control Officer (click right photo to enlarge)
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