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Commendations April 6, 2005 - Personnel Order #2005-26 DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT MYLES MURPHY On February 4, 2005, a woman was sexually assaulted while walking home alone from Cleveland Circle. The assault, which occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m., occurred in the area of Chestnut Hill Avenue and Eliot Street. The victim was successful in fighting off her attacker and fleeing. She immediately reported the assault, however, responding units were unable to locate the suspect. The victim was able to provide a thorough description of her assailant and his vehicle. The following evening at approximately the same time as the previous night's attack, Detective Lieutenant Myles Murphy observed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect's traveling on Chestnut Hill Avenue. Lieutenant Murphy followed the vehicle, whose sole occupant also fit the description of the suspect, and observed that the vehicle was traveling in excess of the speed limit, traveling 50mph in a 30mph zone. Lieutenant Murphy activated his cruiser's lights and stopped the vehicle on Chestnut Hill Avenue. The operator, who did not have a driver's license, was identified as Juan Perez-Roblero. Perez-Roblero was arrested for operating without a license. Based on the location and time of arrest and the similarities between Perez-Roblero and the attacker of the previous night, he was identified as suspect for the assault. Lieutenant Murphy investigated Perez-Roblero's past criminal history and learned that he was charged with a similar assault in Allston, as well as, disorderly conduct for peeking into occupied stalls of a ladies' bathroom. The victim was shown a photo array and positively identified Perez-Roblero as her attacker. Defensive bite marks were also observed on the suspect's hand where the victim reporting biting her attacker. Detective Lieutenant Myles Murphy is commended for his outstanding investigative work and observation skills in this case. His exceptional work in this case removed a serious habitual offender from the street. DETECTIVE CAPTAIN MARK MORGAN On Saturday, February 5, 2005 at 9:38 a.m., the Citizen's Bank on Harvard Street in Coolidge Corner was robbed. The suspect, later identified as Thomas Flannery, passed the teller a note demanding money. Detectives Kenneth McHugh and Paul Kelliher investigated the robbery. During their investigation, they recovered the note the suspect passed to the teller and Detective Kelliher observed that the note had an address on it and that it appeared to be torn from another item. The address was 1322 Beacon Street which was the CVS store located about two blocks away in Coolidge Corner. After interviewing witnesses and processing the crime scene, Detective McHugh went to the CVS and determined that the demand note had been written on the top portion of a photo processing envelope. Detective McHugh recovered the rest of the envelope from the store, identified by the corresponding numbers, and submitted it to Detective O'Kane for processing. Detective McHugh also processed the store's counter for prints and viewed the store's video surveillance tapes. On these tapes, the suspect Thomas Flannery was identified, as was his accomplice, Hope Bunker. From the prints lifted off the demand note and the matching envelope, Detectives Larry Crapo and Justin O'Kane were able to establish Flannery as the suspect. Flannery was well known to the Brookline Police, as he was arrested in December 2003 by Detectives McHugh and Kelliher on an outstanding warrant and was responsible for a robbery at the same Citizen's Bank in August 2004. On February 7th, two days after the Citizen's Bank robbery, Flannery's accomplice, Hope Bunker, was arrested in North Attleboro for shoplifting. Detective McHugh met with North Attleboro detectives and they positively identified Bunker as the women in the CVS surveillance video. Additionally, on this date, the Sovereign Bank on Harvard Street was robbed by a man fitting Flannery's description. During the investigation, Flannery was positively identified in a photo array shown to the victim/witness. On February 9th, Flannery was also identified as a suspect in an Attleboro bank robbery. He was seen fleeing in a vehicle which was later stopped in Pawtucket, RI. Flannery was not in the vehicle but the registered owner, William Krause, was. Krause admitted that he had been with Flannery earlier and had brought him to the mall in Attleboro which contained the bank that was robbed. Detective McHugh went to Pawtucket, RI to interview Krause who was unable to provide Flannery's whereabouts. On February 11th, the Detective Division received information that Hope Bunker might be in the area of South Station and that she and Flannery were staying in local hotels. Captain Mark Morgan, Sergeant Richard Allen, and Detective McHugh went to South Station and were successful in locating Hope Bunker. Bunker was arrested on outstanding warrants and her companion at the time of arrest, Crystal Jones, was also arrested for possession of a needle. It was determined that Jones was also with Flannery during some of his robberies. During this investigation, it was determined that Flannery might have fled to New York on a "Lucky Star" bus. Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police and RI State Police were alerted and assisted in the investigation. The NY State Police Fugitive Task Force was also notified, and along with agents from the US Marshall's Service, conducted surveillance of the New York City bus terminal. At approximately 6:30pm on February 11th, they apprehended Flannery in New York City. For his leadership, coordination and direction in successfully leading this multi-jurisdictional investigation, Captain Morgan is to be commended. Additionally, for their tireless efforts in tracking down this suspect, their ability to work together as a team and with multiple outside agencies, and for their excellent investigative skills, Sergeant Richard Allen, Detective Kenneth McHugh and Detective Paul Kelliher are commended. Furthermore, for their skills and abilities in forensic investigations which led to the positive identification of this suspect, Detective Larry Crapo and Detective Justin O'Kane are to be commended as well. This case is an example of the exemplary work done by the highly skilled and dedicated officers of the Brookline Police Department. PATROL OFFICER KEVIN SULLIVAN On February 15, 2005, Officer Kevin Sullivan, along with other units, was dispatched to the Pine Manor College for a report of trespassers in a vehicle on the property. The vehicle contained four occupants who were involved in an alleged assault and battery earlier in the evening. The victim of the assault had not wanted to pursue any police action and was uncooperative during the previous investigation. Responding units to this call were informed of the vehicle's make, model and registration and that the vehicle had fled the scene. Officer Sullivan, heading west on Boylston Street at the intersection of Lee Street, observed this vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign at Heath Hill Road and activated his cruiser's overhead lights and siren signaling the vehicle the stop. The vehicle sped up, making no attempt to stop and continued driving erratically up Lee Street, onto Warren Street. The vehicle finally stopped in front of 415 Warren Street. Officer Sullivan, assisted by responding units, ordered all the occupants out of the vehicle and began to identify them. At this time, it was determined that the operator had a suspended license and he was placed under arrest. During an inventory of the vehicle, Officer Thornton found a plastic bag containing rock cocaine and a loaded .45 caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol in the glove compartment. All of the vehicle's occupants were then placed under arrest. It was later determined that two of suspect provided false information and one had warrants for his arrest. For his keen observation skills in identifying the suspect's car on route to the call and for a successful and safe apprehension of the four suspects, Patrol Officer Kevin Sullivan is to be commended. His work in this case led to getting four dangerous persons, 19 rocks of crack cocaine and loaded firearm off the street. SERGEANT ANDREW LIPSON On February 28, 2005 at approximately 7:50 p.m., while assigned as the Patrol Supervisor, Sergeant Andrew Lipson was traveling north on Carlton Street and observed a subject running from a rear door in the alley of 1056 Beacon Street. The basement apartment at this address was known to Sergeant Lipson as being the subject of numerous reports of suspicious and possibly drug-related activity. Sergeant Lipson turned his vehicle around and observed the subject, later identified as Gustavo Barroso, getting into a vehicle. The vehicle quickly drove down the alley and Barroso continued to look back at Sergeant Lipson who was following behind them. The vehicle then pulled into an alley which was a dead end and attempted to reverse. Sergeant Lipson illuminated the vehicle with his spotlight and could see Barroso moving frantically around the back seat. Sergeant Lipson radioed in his location to dispatch and approached the vehicle. There were two people in the front seat - a male operator and female passenger - and Barroso was in the backseat. Sergeant Lipson observed that Barroso was keeping his hands behind his back and ordered him to stop moving around. When backup units arrived on scene, Sergeant Lipson ordered Barroso from the vehicle and conducted a pat-frisk, locating a knife in his front pocket. Sergeant Lipson then conducted a protective sweep of the area where Barroso had been sitting and hiding his hands and discovered a large plastic bag of marijuana. Officer Stephenson also discovered a second large bag of marijuana tucked between the door jam and rear seat. Sergeant Lipson advised Barroso of his rights and questioned him regarding what happened. Barroso provided inconsistent and illogical accounts of what had occurred. Barroso did admit that he and the other occupants of the car had purchased the marijuana at 1056 Beacon Street from a guy named "Brian". The resident of that apartment, Brian Jumper, was well known to Detective Ingram who was also on scene. Jumper has a lengthy criminal history and violent past. At this time, all three occupants of the vehicle were arrested. During the inventory search of the vehicle, officers also discovered a scale and a marijuana pipe in the center console. At that point, Sergeant Lipson and Detective Ingram went to the apartment at 1056 Beacon Street to speak with Jumper. They knocked on the door and identified themselves as police officers. At that time, they could hear movement in the apartment and then heard the toilet flushing. Detective Lieutenant Myles Murphy and the marked 541 unit, Officers Weinstein and Mushlin arrived on scene to assist. The marked 541 unit was visible from the apartment's window. After approximately 20 minutes, Jumper answered the door and stated that he did not know it was the police. Upon entering the apartment, the officers could distinctively smell marijuana in the apartment. During a protective sweep of the apartment, clear plastic bags like those found in the vehicle and marijuana residue were found on the counter. Additionally, there was marijuana in the toilet. At this time, Jumper was placed under arrest for possession of a class D substance with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate the controlled substance act and a school zone violation. For his keen sense of observation and excellent investigatory skills, Sergeant Andrew Lipson is commended. His efforts led to the arrest of a drug dealer, who was selling drugs in a school zone, and his clients, as well as, the removal of drugs from the street. TRAFFIC OFFICER KEITH LACY On March 8, 2005 at approximately 5:15 p.m., a 911 call was received by the resident of 370 Woodland Road reporting a fire in her house. Traffic Officer Keith Lacy, while working a private police detail at the Beaver County Day School on Hammond Street, heard the call and responded to the fire scene. Arriving first on scene, Officer Lacy observed smoke and fire coming from the home. He approached the house and opened the unlocked front door, calling out to anyone inside. The house was filling up with black smoke and he could see fire in the adjacent room. He bent down low to see under the smoke and saw the resident laying on the floor, overcome by the smoke. He called out to her but she was unable to move. Officer Lacy radioed dispatch and reported that there was a woman down inside the home. He then he entered into the burning home in an attempt to rescue her. Officer Lacy was able to keep low and negotiate his way to the woman. She was unable to get herself up so Officer Lacy grabbed her and pulled her from the floor and out the front door of the house. At this time, responding units from the Fire and Police Departments were arriving on scene and Officer Lacy assisted in getting the woman medical attention. In putting his own personal safety aside and taking such swift action, Officer Lacy saved this woman's life. Officer Lacy is commended for his brave and heroic actions. The above are examples of the excellent police work that was conducted over the last several months by the men and women of the Brookline Police Department. These officers are to be commended for their efforts in keeping Brookline a safe place to live, work and visit. Daniel C. O'Leary
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