ARLINGTON — Chief Julie Flaherty reports that the Arlington Police Department arrested and charged a man who allegedly led officers on a foot pursuit, including onto the ice on Mystic River, following a report of breaking and entering on Saturday.
JOSEPH KAHLER, AGE 30, whose last known address was in WEYMOUTH, was arrested and is charged with:
- Breaking and Entering in the Daytime (felony)
- Resisting Arrest
- Failure to Stop for Police
- Possession of a Class C Substance
KAHLER was also held onfour active warrants out of Boston District Court, Quincy District Court and Weymouth District Court.
On Saturday, Jan. 15 at approximately 1:15 p.m., Arlington Police officers were dispatched to a home on Mystic Lake Drive for a report of a breaking and entering in progress. A homeowner reported arriving home with their children to find their kitchen window open and observed a male subject walking through the yard to a U-Haul truck parked on the street.
While responding, officers were notified that the U-Haul truck had left the area and was traveling on Newton Street. Officers quickly located and began to follow the vehicle at a safe distance. The vehicle soon stopped on Coral Street, and the male driver, later identified as KAHLER, and an adult female passenger exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
Police quickly located the female passenger and she was taken into custody without further incident.
Police continued searching for the driver, who bystanders reported to be walking along the bank of the Mystic River in the area of River Street. Officers arrived at River Street and were informed by bystanders that KAHLER had gone under the bridge and onto the ice. Officers, along with Arlington Police K-9 Eiko, went under the bridge and ordered KAHLER to come out. Officers observed fresh footprints on the ice and located KAHLER on the other side of the bridge.
KAHLER again began to flee onto River Street and then toward the river. K-9 Eiko was deployed when KAHLER refused to comply with orders to stop. KAHLER then ran onto the ice where both he and K-9 Eiko fell through the ice and into the water. K-9 Eiko did not make contact with the suspect and was called back to the river bank, and KAHLER was able to stand up in the water. KAHLER refused multiple orders to come out of the water and refused to grab a safety line police threw to him. An officer was eventually able to reach him and pull him out of the water.
Paramedics from the Arlington and Medford Fire departments were on scene and immediately provided treatment to KAHLER for cold exposure.
Through the subsequent investigation, police learned that the U-Haul truck was allegedly stolen. Police also found a bag on the property where the alleged breaking and entering occurred containing numerous items from inside the home. During an inventory of the U-Haul truck, officers also located a substance that is believed to be heroin.
“I would like to commend the officers for their diligent, exhaustive work that resulted in the arrest of the suspect after he went into the water and refused attempts by officers to rescue him. Thankfully, our officers, drawing on their training, experience and professionalism, brought a safe conclusion to this incident,” Chief Flaherty said. “I would also like to thank the bystanders who reported seeing the suspect at various points and ultimately assisted officers in locating him.”
The female passenger was also transported to an area hospital for an evaluation. Police learned that she has two active warrants for her arrest, out of Worcester District Court and a Boston court, and she will be summonsed for the warrants at a later date. She is not being charged in connection to this incident at this time and as a result, her name is not being released.
KAHLER was transported to the hospital where he was treated and released and transported to the Arlington Police Department for booking. He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday, Jan. 18 in Cambridge District Court.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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