Car ditched in south Stoneham neighborhood
Published on June 18th, 2008
Car ditched in south Stoneham neighborhood
Worcester man faces battery of charges for high-speed chase
Authorities levied a slew of charges against a Worcester man who allegedly led State Police on an alcohol-fueled, high-speed chase before finally ditching the vehicle at a Park Street area residence last Monday.
James Munn, 21, of Worcester, was arrested shortly after 8 p.m. on Monday after he was finally subdued by the pursuing State Trooper and a neighborhood resident who spotted the suspect in his yard.
The Worcester man faces charges for a battery of offenses, including:
•Operating under the influence of alcohol (second offense);
•Negligent operation of a motor vehicle;
•Malicious destruction of property over $250;
•Operating a vehicle with an open container of alcohol;
•Failure to stop for a police officer;
•Operating with a suspended license;
•Speeding; and marked lanes violations.
The passenger in Munn's Buick, later identified as a 19-year-old Worcester man, was placed into protective custody at the scene, but he had not been formally charged with any crimes.
According to Mass. State Police spokesman Trooper Thomas Murphy, an on-duty officer clocked Munn at speeds in excess of 100 m.p.h. as the red Buick sped down I-93 South towards Woburn and Stoneham.
The state trooper then gave chase, catching-up with the 21-year-old nearby the Montvale Avenue off-ramp. Munn allegedly continued to travel at significant speeds until that point, weaving in and out of travel lanes to avoid other motorists, according to authorities.
The vehicle then purportedly pulled-off Exit 36 onto Montvale Avenue and stopped under the I-93 underpass near McDonald's, but then suddenly sped away, hopping back onto highway southbound.
The trooper again gave chase, this time pursuing the suspect to the next exit, where the Buick sped onto Fallon Road and then whipped onto Park Street.
"At that point, the trooper decided to stop pursuing," said Murphy, explaining that it was too dangerous to continue the high-speed chase in the dense residential neighborhood.
"As the trooper approached Atwood Avenue, he was flagged down by a pedestrian [who pointed to the ditched car in a residential driveway]," the State Police spokesperson continued.
According to Murphy, although the passenger remained by the vehicle, Munn fled on foot through the Park Street neighborhood. He eventually attempted to hide in a Winthrop Street yard, but was eventually tackled by a neighbor and the trooper.
After being placed in the cruiser, the state trooper turned his attention to the passenger, who had apparently since exited the Buick.
"He fled the scene to Winthrop Street and entered a backyard. A homeowner actually assisted in subduing him," said Murphy. ""Munn was then put in the back of the cruiser and he kicked out the back window while [the trooper] was dealing with the passenger."
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