Police Helicopter, Dogs, Apprehend Armed Car-Chase Suspects in West Somerville [Photos/Video]
Police caught three suspects and a firearm after a car chase through Somerville and Medford.
A state police helicopter and police dogs searched a normally quiet neighborhood in West Somerville Monday night for suspects, at least one of them armed, that had led police on a car chase.
Police in the area around Powder House Boulevard and Leonard Street—right next to the Tufts University campus—had three suspects in custody as of about 11 p.m., and Somerville, Medford, Boston and state police were still searching the neighborhood for a possible fourth suspect.
Police also discovered one handgun, according to Deputy Chief Paul Upton of the Somerville Police Department.
Upton said police initially responded to a report of shots fired on Gilman Street, near McGrath Highway in East Somerville, at around 9:08 p.m.
The shots fired were associated with a white motor vehicle, and moments later a police unit spotted a car—a white Subaru Legacy—that matched the description, Upton said.
When police tried to stop the car, it led police on a pursuit through Somerville, onto Boston Avenue in Medford, and back into Somerville, according to the deputy chief.
The suspects bailed in the West Somerville neighborhood, blocks from the Powder House Rotary, and led police on a foot chase and subsequent manhunt.
"This was a terrific joint effort," Upton said of the cooperation between Somerville, Medford and state police that resulted in the apprehension of the three suspects and firearm.
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During the search, a state police helicopter hovered over the neighborhood, shining a bright searchlight into back yards as police K9s and state troopers with shotguns searched from property to property looking for the suspects.
Upton said people in the neighborhood were not in danger. That said, at 10:48 p.m. the city's official Twitter account asked people to stay indoors. The Tweet read: "Police pursuit of possibly armed suspect in W. #Somerville Tufts/Powderhouse area is under way. If in the area, please stay inside."
Although police were searching for a possible fourth suspect, the city Tweeted at 11:22 p.m., "All suspects have been apprehended in #Somerville. State Police to remain in area for final sweeps."
danielle mclain
12:11 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
So scary to know its right in your neighborhood
Vicky
9:37 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
scary to know this can happen in any neighborhood.
J. Melendez
12:15 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
I heard the helicopter, thought it was odd... Now I'm connecting the dots. Good thing no one got hurt.
Jason
7:24 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Good work SPD.
Thank you.
richard
9:08 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Aprehend?
Daniel DeMaina
9:39 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Thanks for the catch Richard—typos slip through when you're working late at night sometimes.
Chris Orchard
10:07 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Yes, thanks, Richard, for catching that.
Jo-Ann Fontano
11:11 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Just goes to show our City and State are up to par with the latest Tec, Chopper,and Cars to catch criminals who are treat to our Society.
Danielle DesRoches
1:32 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
What about contacting the media to alert folks who aren't necessarily tech-savvy?