Cape Wide News for Tuesday February 23rd, 2010
Radisson evacuated in Hyannis
Guests and workers at the Radisson wait outside while firefighters checked out a foul odor in the hotel.
 HYANNIS - The Radisson Hotel in Hyannis was evacuated after a possible chemical incident.
Hyannis Firefighters were called to the hotel on Iyannough Road (Route 28) just before 4:30 p.m.
It appears the concrete floor was being worked on in the pool area and materials being used apparently caused a foul odor.
No one was taken to the hospital, and guests were allowed to return to their rooms after the building was ventilated.
At right: a firefighter brings out a bucket of the suspected material.
Photos by Frank F. Paparo/CWN
Multiple stabbing reported in Hyannis
Police and rescuers at the scene of a reported multiple stabbing in Hyannis
 HYANNIS - Emergency officials were called to the scene of a reported multiple stabbing in Hyannis Tuesday afternoon.
The call at 44 Yarmouth Road came in about 4:15 p.m.
One person suffered a hand injury. Two other victims apparently left the scene before officials arrived, possibly headed to Cape Cod Hospital.
A suspect (right) ifentified as Nicholas S. Bradshaw, 44, of Hyannis was taken into custody, charged with assualt and battery with a dangerous weapon.
None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. The motive in the attack was unclear.
CWN photos by Zack Schoone
Fire erupts in Provincetown apartment building
Flames shoot out of a Provincetown apartment building within feet of other structures.
 PROVINCETOWN - (video included) A Provincetown apartment building was heavily damaged by fire early Tuesday afternoon. Flames were shooing out a second story window at 284E Commercial Street when firefighters arrived about 12:15 p.m. The building is nestled in the densely packed downtown block between Standish Street and Ryder Streets. Quick work by firefighters kept the flames from jumping to other buildings.
Three occupants were evaluated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but eyewitness told a local reporter they believe it started in a mattress. This is apparently the second cigarette fire sparked in Provincetown today (see related story below).
Mutual aid from Truro assisted at the scene while Wellfleet and Eastham covered the Provincetown station.
Below: Provincetown's new ladder truck gets its first major workout as crews ventilate the roof. The photo also shows how close other buildings are to the fire building
Photos by Tim Caldwell/CWN
New overnight: Two hospitalized after Provincetown fire
 PROVINCETOWN - Provincetown firefighters rushed to a smoky fire at the Foley House on Bradford Street sometime after 2 a.m. The report of smoke coming from the second floor was determined to be some bedding that had caught fire.
A first arriving police officer was able to knock down the flames with an extinguisher. Firefighters did have to ventilate heavy smoke from the building.
Two people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and then transported to Cape Cod Hospital for further evaluation.
The cause of the fire is believed to be smoking in bed.
Photo by Tim Caldwell/CWN
Special Report: Bank robbery suspect believed to be linked to other heists
 CAPE COD - (The following press release was furnished by Barnstable Police)
On Sunday February 21, 2010, Joshua Law, 29, of Yarmouth was arrested moments after he allegedly robbed the TD Bank in Chatham. Law’s arrest culminated a month-and-half investigation involving seven Cape Cod Police Departments (Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Harwich, Sandwich and Yarmouth), Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation Unit, and TD Bank Security.
(At right: police are working to confirm their belief Joshua Law of Yarmouth is the so called "hoodie bandit" who is alleged to have held up as many as five TD bank branches since January 2).
The “joint investigation” focused on a string of five TD Bank robberies in a six-week period possibly by the same suspect. The investigation was the cooperative effort of all the law enforcement agencies involved. That cooperation would play a vital role later in the arrest of Law. TD Bank employees, TD Bank Security and their video security system also played a pivotal role in the successful outcome.
 The string of robberies started on Saturday January 2, 2010, with the early morning robbery of the TD Bank Osterville branch. A lone suspect entered the branch wearing a hooded sweatshirt backward with eye holes cut in it. He also wore heavy clothing underneath, which included work boots and gloves. He made a verbal demand for money from the victim teller.
The next robbery occurred 24 days later on Tuesday January 26, 2010, at the same TD Bank Osterville branch. This robbery also took place shortly after 8:00 a.m. The lone suspect was dressed identically to the previous robbery. In fact, Police Investigators believe he was wearing the same clothing. Following the second robbery, the Barnstable Police Department started conducting surveillances on TD Bank branches in the Town of Barnstable.
 The third bank robbery took place 14 days later on Tuesday February 9, 2010, at the TD Bank Dennis branch located off Rte 6A. This robbery also took place shortly after 8:00 a.m.
The lone suspect appeared to have been dressed in the same clothing worn in the two previous Osterville robberies.
Following the third robbery, Dennis and Barnstable Police Department Detectives met to share information. The three bank robberies were also discussed at the monthly Cape Cod Detectives meeting.
Police Investigators searched for some type of pattern, which would help identify the robbery suspect.
Based on the witness statements and security video, the same person was suspected of being involved in all three robberies.
 The fourth robbery took place at the TD Bank Sandwich branch one week later. On Tuesday February 16, 2010, a lone suspect entered the Sandwich TD Bank dressed in a same manner. He wore a hooded sweatshirt backward with eye holes cut out in the hood. However, this time the robbery took place in the afternoon. The clothing worn was not the same as the previous three robberies. Sandwich Detectives were able to locate a witness. The witness saw the suspect run from the bank and leave the area in a vehicle. They also located security video from an area business that depicted the same.
Based on a witness statement and confirmed by store video, Police Investigators began looking for a green late model Geo/Chevrolet Prizm. Police Investigators from Sandwich, Dennis and Barnstable began to follow up this new information.
They looked at a Chevrolet Prizm registered to Joshua Law, 29, of Yarmouth. It appeared very similar to the vehicle used in the Sandwich robbery. Police Investigator next conducted a search of Registry of Motor Vehicle records. The Harwich, Brewster and Yarmouth Police Department also provided information relating to Law and his vehicle. Law’s vehicle was observed in Harwich immediately following the Dennis robbery. During the same time frame, a Brewster Police Officer observed Law’s vehicle near a Brewster TD Bank.
Based on the combined information of all the police agencies involved Law became a “person of interest.” Almost “round the clock” surveillance was initiated on Law, his residence, and vehicle starting on Friday February 19, 2010. Police Investigators put in long hours and were ultimately rewarded on Sunday February 21, 2010.
The string of bank robberies did not seem to exhibit any kind of pattern that would aid Law Enforcement to determine when and where the next TD Bank robbery would take place. This caused some anxiety and fear among TD Bank employees Cape wide. During the six-week period Police Investigators talked constantly with bank employees in an attempt to allay their fears. They walked a fine line between trying to keep the victims informed but not compromise the investigation.
Although Law was a “person of interest,” the suspect covered his faced during the robbery spree. Police wanted to catch the suspect in the act of robbing a bank. The dilemma was not compromising the surveillance of Law. Sandwich, Dennis, Barnstable and Yarmouth were extremely concerned Law would discover the “round the clock” surveillance.
Experienced narcotics detectives were tasked with the surveillance. This decision was based on their experience and training related to following drug suspects. The idea to include narcotics investigators in a bank robbery investigation is just another example of the level of cross-agency cooperation this case exhibited.
On February 21, 2010, Law's vehicle was observed exiting his Yarmouth residence. The surveillance team followed it. Police would later learn that Law’s vehicle also contained his 10-month-old daughter. During the surveillance, Law drove around TD Banks in both Harwich and Brewster. The surveillance team task was a difficult one in the Sunday traffic. Following Law’s vehicle without being detected took a great deal of skill.
Shortly after 1:00 p.m. Law’s vehicle stopped at the Chatham TD Bank branch. He exited his vehicle leaving the vehicle running and door open. He entered the bank and exited the bank in under 30 seconds. Law made off with an undisclosed amount of money. Law headed to the area of Jack Knife Harbor near the Harwich/Chatham line. There he is suspected of discarding the clothing he wore during the bank robbery. A marked Harwich Police Unit and Barnstable Detective Unit intercepted Law. He was arrested without incident. The money stolen during the Chatham robbery was located in Law’s vehicle.
Law was booked at Chatham Police Department and charged with Unarmed Robbery. He was arraigned in Orleans District Court on February 22, 2010, and held on $20,000 cash bail. The investigation into the string of TD Bank robberies continues. Police and TD Bank Security are meeting again to review all the bank robberies. Law is considered a possible suspect in the other four robberies. However, he has not been charged to date.
Photo credits: Mugshot furnished by Chatham Police; surveillance photo furnished by Dennis Police; file photos by Frank F. Paparo, Kevin Morley, Bryan Joseph, and Jake O'Callaghan
Coast Guard to conduct two-day, search and rescue drill
 WOODS HOLE – Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England will conduct a two-day, search and rescue exercise Feb. 23-24.
On Wednesday morning Coast Guard Sector Southeastern will simulate receiving a report of an overdue fishing vessel on a trip from an area east of Nantucket, Mass., headed toward Provincetown, Mass.
During the drill, the Coast Guard will communicate on VHF-FM channel 23A and all transmissions will include the phrase, "This is a drill, this is a drill." Urgent marine information broadcasts and any call outs for the overdue vessel will be simulated, and no transmissions related to the drill will be made on VHF-FM Channel 16, the channel used to report maritime distress.
The exercise will last eight hours each day and occur during daylight hours only. While actual search efforts would not suspend after sunset, for drill purposes, the exercise will be suspended at night to prevent exceeding crew fatigue limitations.
Exercise participants will include: Coast Guard Stations Chatham and Provincetown, Air Station Cape Cod, and Coast Guard Cutters Escanaba and Tybee, which will work with the First Coast Guard District Command Center in Boston.
The intent of the drill is to prepare Coast Guard members for large scale search and rescue operations.
Anyone with any concerns or questions related to the drill should contact Coast Guard Sector Southeastern at (508) 457- 3211.
At right: A large Coast Guard cutter in Provincetown Harbor Tuesday morning. Photo by Tim Caldwell/CWN
Man accused of holding family hostage in Falmouth
FALMOUTH - A local man is accused of going on a drunken rage and holding family members against their will. Police were called to a Fordham Road residence about 3:30 a.m. Sunday after an aunt escaped and called 911. Because the aunt reported the suspect held a knife to her throat, a special response team was called and was able to free the suspect's father and 7-year-old cousin. Police were then able to take Daniel R. Beemink, 31, of Falmouth into custody. They found Beemink with a cache of a dozen knives and discovered another one when Beemink was frisked. Beemink was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon ( 2 counts) and threatening to commit a crime (2 counts). He was arraigned Monday in Falmouth District Court. No one was injured during the incident.
Fundraiser for police K-9 relief association
 YARMOUTH - The 7th annual Cape Cod Police K-9 Relief Fund reception will be held on Sunday February 28, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Yarmouth House Restaurant. A silent auction, raffle, music and hors d'oeuvres
Dedicated to their service and committed to working with our community to provide unsurpassed police services, the Cape Cod region has ten actively working K-9s.
Upon retirement from the police department, the financial burden of maintaining the K-9 officer becomes the responsibility of the handler. This is an expensive responsibility. At the end of his career, the K-9 officer is still a community and family friend, they don't want to lose.
For more information contact Joseph Ambrosini at (508) 294-1869.
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