State Troopers Arrest Multi-State Fugitive After Long Pursuit
Determined Massachusetts State Troopers chased and captured a multi-state fugitive during a nearly half-hour pursuit that began in Mansfield and ended at the Bourne Rotary at the gateway to Cape Cod. Mansfield Police assisted in the pursuit and arrest.
The sequence of events began at approximately 5:50 p.m. Mansfield Police initiated pursuit of a stolen black Volkswagen sport utility vehicle with Rhode Island plates on Route 495 southbound. The operator had previously been identified as NICHOLAS J. MARSHALL, 24, of 8 Johnson Ave., Johnston, R.I., the subject of numerous outstanding arrest warrants. Mansfield Police advised Massachusetts State Police of these facts, as well as of the fact that they had information that MARSHALL had a loaded shotgun with him in the vehicle.
At approximately 6 p.m., the suspect vehicle entered the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts State Police Middleboro barracks and State Troopers took the lead on the pursuit on Route 495 southbound at Bay Street (Exit 9) in Taunton.
Massachusetts State Police Troop D Headquarters authorized a pursuit and initiated command and control of numerous State Police troopers who engaged the fleeing suspect. MARSHALL was driving in excess of 100 mph during the pursuit. Troop D Headquarters continually monitored such factors as speeds, traffic volume, and density of surrounding areas in allowing the pursuit to continue. A helicopter from the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing responded overhead and monitored the pursuit from the sky.
The pursuit continued southbound on Route 495. In the area of Exit 6, the fleeing suspect vehicle struck stop sticks, devices placed by Troopers onto a roadway that puncture and slowly deflate a vehicle's tires. The damaged suspect vehicle, with two punctured tires, continued southbound as Route 495 turned into Route 25 eastbound, and then over the Bourne Bridge to the Bourne Rotary. In the rotary, the suspect vehicle rolled over, in front of the State Police Bourne Barracks. State Troopers immediately converged on the suspect and took him into custody. The suspect suffered minor injuries and was transported to Falmouth Hospital. No other injuries were reported. Two cruisers came into contact at the end of the pursuit. The cruisers suffered paint transfer and no further damage.
State Police charged MARSHALL with multiple offenses related to his attempt to flee, including failure to stop, speeding, and operating to endanger. Mansfield Police will also file similar charges related to their initial attempt to stop the suspect. Additionally, MARSHALL is charged with several prior outstanding warrants:
- Warrant out of Attleboro District Court for stolen motor vehicle and being a fugitive from justice;
- Warrant out of South Boston Court for larceny of a motor vehicle;
- Warrant out of Rhode Island for motor vehicle theft; and
- Warrant out of Pennsylvania for theft.
MARSHAL remains at Falmouth Hospital at this hour under State Police guard. Details of his arraignment will be worked out in consultation with a bail commissioner. We will update you on that in the morning.
The Troopers involved exhibited professional, precise patrol tactics and pursuit procedures, and took a dangerous suspect into custody with no injury to anyone other than the suspect himself. Following the pursuit, Major Anthony Thomas, commanding officer of Troop D, commended the Troopers for their courageous and technically superb work.
--David Procopio
Spokesman
Massachusetts State Police
The sequence of events began at approximately 5:50 p.m. Mansfield Police initiated pursuit of a stolen black Volkswagen sport utility vehicle with Rhode Island plates on Route 495 southbound. The operator had previously been identified as NICHOLAS J. MARSHALL, 24, of 8 Johnson Ave., Johnston, R.I., the subject of numerous outstanding arrest warrants. Mansfield Police advised Massachusetts State Police of these facts, as well as of the fact that they had information that MARSHALL had a loaded shotgun with him in the vehicle.
At approximately 6 p.m., the suspect vehicle entered the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts State Police Middleboro barracks and State Troopers took the lead on the pursuit on Route 495 southbound at Bay Street (Exit 9) in Taunton.
Massachusetts State Police Troop D Headquarters authorized a pursuit and initiated command and control of numerous State Police troopers who engaged the fleeing suspect. MARSHALL was driving in excess of 100 mph during the pursuit. Troop D Headquarters continually monitored such factors as speeds, traffic volume, and density of surrounding areas in allowing the pursuit to continue. A helicopter from the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing responded overhead and monitored the pursuit from the sky.
The pursuit continued southbound on Route 495. In the area of Exit 6, the fleeing suspect vehicle struck stop sticks, devices placed by Troopers onto a roadway that puncture and slowly deflate a vehicle's tires. The damaged suspect vehicle, with two punctured tires, continued southbound as Route 495 turned into Route 25 eastbound, and then over the Bourne Bridge to the Bourne Rotary. In the rotary, the suspect vehicle rolled over, in front of the State Police Bourne Barracks. State Troopers immediately converged on the suspect and took him into custody. The suspect suffered minor injuries and was transported to Falmouth Hospital. No other injuries were reported. Two cruisers came into contact at the end of the pursuit. The cruisers suffered paint transfer and no further damage.
State Police charged MARSHALL with multiple offenses related to his attempt to flee, including failure to stop, speeding, and operating to endanger. Mansfield Police will also file similar charges related to their initial attempt to stop the suspect. Additionally, MARSHALL is charged with several prior outstanding warrants:
- Warrant out of Attleboro District Court for stolen motor vehicle and being a fugitive from justice;
- Warrant out of South Boston Court for larceny of a motor vehicle;
- Warrant out of Rhode Island for motor vehicle theft; and
- Warrant out of Pennsylvania for theft.
MARSHAL remains at Falmouth Hospital at this hour under State Police guard. Details of his arraignment will be worked out in consultation with a bail commissioner. We will update you on that in the morning.
The Troopers involved exhibited professional, precise patrol tactics and pursuit procedures, and took a dangerous suspect into custody with no injury to anyone other than the suspect himself. Following the pursuit, Major Anthony Thomas, commanding officer of Troop D, commended the Troopers for their courageous and technically superb work.
--David Procopio
Spokesman
Massachusetts State Police
No further information is available at this time. Please do not call the barracks directly