For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Raynham Police Respond after Man Barricades Himself Inside Home

Members of South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) SWAT Unit Provide Mutual Aid

RAYNHAM — Chief James Donovan reports that the Raynham Police Department is investigating after a man barricaded himself inside his home and allegedly made violent threats towards himself and others, including members of law enforcement.

At approximately 5:17 p.m., Raynham Police officers responded to a home on New Carver Street for a report of a man who had barricaded himself in a bedroom. The man allegedly said he would shoot and kill any police officers that responded to the home.

Raynham Police requested the assistance of the South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) SWAT team. Taunton Police and an Environmental Police officer, who happened to be near the home at the time, responded to assist. Nearby homes were evacuated and a perimeter was established out of an abundance of caution.

A Raynham Police detective and crisis negotiator was able to speak with the man and convinced him to come out of the house without further incident. The man, a 76-year-old Raynham resident, was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation.

Six firearms were seized from a safe inside the home as evidence. The firearms were legally owned by another resident.

“Anytime you get someone making the kind of threats he was making, and there is the potential for firearms to be involved, it has to be taken seriously. That is why I called for the SEMLEC SWAT unit to respond,” Chief Donovan said. “I want to commend and thank our officers and our law enforcement partners for their assistance in this incident.  They dropped whatever they were doing on a holiday to respond to a potentially dangerous incident in the bitter cold and we were able to get a result where thankfully no one was injured.”

The incident is being actively investigated by the Raynham Police Department. The man is likely to face a number of charges and would be arraigned at Taunton District Court at a date to be determined.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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