Page 10 - March 2017

Governor Baker Commends Troopers

On New Years Eve, James Morales escaped from the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls Rhode Island. He
crossed the state line into Attleboro MA, where an MSP K-9 tracked him to a parking lot off of Route 1A and
found that Morales had discarded his prison attire and stole a vehicle to make his get away. A five day manhunt
ensued for Morales, who was originally being held for the theft of 16 guns from an Army Reserve Center in
Worcester and was also wanted for rape of a child. Days after his escape, a suspect fitting Morales desciption
attempted to rob a bank in Cambridge. The next robbery attempt was at a Citizens Bank in Somerville.
Trooper Joseph Merrick of the Troop A Community Action Team was in the area and responded. He located a
suspect fitting Morales’ description and a foot pursuit ensued. For two block, over fences and through yards,
Trooper Merrick pursued Morales. As Morales attempted to scale another fence, Trooper Merrick pulled him
down. Trooper Brendan Cain and Somerville Detectives Kilsarys Leguisamon and Derrick Dottin assisted in taking
Morales into custody.
On February 13, 2017 Governor Baker honored Trooper Joseph Merrick, Trooper Brendan Cain, Detective Kilsarys
Leguisamon and Detective Derrick Dottin in a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House. Governor Baker called
the arrest ‘a wonderful example of collaboration and cooperation’ between the local police and the state police.
Trooper Merrick stated to the media that were present ‘We do this every day. It’s nice to get recognized.’

Governor Baker, Colonel McKeon, LtCol Amodeo, Trooper Cain, Trooper Merrick, Lt Governor Polito and Secretary of Public
Safety Dean Bennet pose for a photo after the ceremony recognizing those involved in an outstanding arrest.
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