Massachusetts

State Police Trooper Involved in Pursuit of Suspect Crashes Cruiser in Attleboro

The state trooper was involved in the second of two police pursuits on Friday, which resulted in the arrests of Dong Lee and Charles Wheeler

What to Know

  • Two police pursuits happened Friday, resulting in the arrests of Dong Lee and Charles Wheeler.
  • First pursuit began when a trooper observed a car possibly connected to a bank robbery in Brockton, Massachusetts.
  • The state trooper who crashed his cruiser in Attleboro suffered minor injuries and was treated at Sturdy Hospital.

A Massachusetts State Police cruiser that was involved in the pursuit of a suspect crashed Friday in Attleboro, Massachusetts.

The police cruiser and another vehicle were involved in the crash on Route 1 at Cumberland Avenue.

The trooper, who has not been identified, was transported to Sturdy Hospital with minor injuries.

The entire incident began around 3:42 p.m. when a state trooper in Foxboro saw a white Toyota Avalon that was possibly connected to a bank robbery in Brockton. 

When Trooper Michael Clement attempted to stop the car, the driver fled at a high speed, and a pursuit ensued.

The suspect vehicle continued at a high rate of speed onto Interstate 495 southbound and then onto Interstate 95 southbound. The suspects exited the highway at Exit 5 and then crashed when they tried to change direction to get back onto I-95 south. 

The two suspects exited the vehicle and then fled into the woods.

One suspect, the passenger, identified as Dong Lee, 48, of Providence, was apprehended. He suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to Norwood Hospital for treatment.

He was charged with receiving stolen property, receiving a stolen motor vehicle and a warrant.

At 3:56 p.m., the second suspect who fled into the woods stole a Honda Civic from a Gulf Station in North Attleboro. 

At about 4:03 p.m., Trooper Michael Ferrari saw the stolen vehicle traveling on Route 1 southbound at Route 295.

A second police pursuit began. It was during this pursuit that a State Trooper was involved in a crash in Attleboro.

The suspect entered the opposite side of the road and drove against traffic, going south on the northbound side, toward the Rhode Island border.

The fleeing suspect was eventually stopped at the state line where troopers converged on him.

The suspect, identified as Charles Wheeler, 47, of Weymouth, was taken into custody where he was booked on charges of receiving stolen property, receiving a stolen motor vehicle and a warrant.

Both Lee and Wheeler are expected to face additional charges and are under investigation in connection with several bank robberies. 

The investigation is ongoing.

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