On Sunday November 15, 2009 at 4:22 p.m., Rehoboth Police received a 911 call from a resident at 51 Wheeler Street who reported that several males had just attempted to break into her residence. The 78 year old female resident was home alone at the time of the incident provided Dispatcher Bree Hoskins with a description of the suspects and the vehicle (a 2000 ford van color white) they fled the area in. Rehoboth Police Officer Paul McGovern responded to the scene while other officers responded to the area to look for the suspect(s) and vehicle.

Dispatcher Hoskins notified surrounding towns of the attempted housebreak providing them with a description of the suspects and the vehicle. Within minutes several Rehoboth residents hearing the police broadcast on scanners in their homes, called police headquarters to report a suspect vehicle matching the description had first headed down Elm Street and then down Country Street headed towards Dighton.

Dighton Police were notified and Sergeant Mark Rossi headed down Country Street towards Dighton. Sgt. Rossi continued into Dighton onto Wellington Street. At 4:34 p.m., Sergeant Ed Dutra from the Dighton Police Department alertly spotted the suspect vehicle and pulled it over as it turned from Wellington Street onto Williams Street, just as Sergeant Rossi pulled in behind him. Within minutes both officers were joined at the scene by Patrol Officer Nicole Eastwood from the Rehoboth Police and Patrolman James Duddy from the Dighton Police Department. Further investigation conducted at the scene resulted in the arrest of the following three suspects who were occupants of the van:

1)Jeffrey L. Chapman, age 35, of 43 Porter St, Taunton, Ma.
a.Breaking & Entering in Daytime for Felony (Person in Fear) (Felony)
b.Malicious Destruction of Property over $250 (Felony)
c.Conspiracy (Felony)
d.Warrant – Probation Violation Warrant
2)Michael J. Ribeiro, age 33, of 623 Somerset Ave, North Dighton, Ma.
a.Breaking & Entering in Daytime for Felony (Person in Fear) (Felony)
b.Malicious Destruction of Property over $250 (Felony)
c.Conspiracy (Felony)
3)Jason J. Medas, age 32, of 16 Mason St, Apt 2, Taunton, Ma.
a.Breaking & Entering Daytime for Felony (Person in Fear) (Felony)
b.Malicious Destruction of Property over $250 (Felony)
c.Conspiracy (Felony)
d.Providing False Name/ SS Number to Police (Misdemeanor)
e.Operating Motor Vehicle on Suspended License (Subsequent Offense) (Misdemeanor)
f.Warrant – Default – Issued by Attleboro District Court on previous Assault & Battery charge (Misdemeanor)

All three suspects were taken into custody at the scene and transported back to Rehoboth Police Headquarters for processing. Bail Clerk Marc Santos set $6175.00 cash bail on Medas, Chapman was held without bail, Ribeiro $5000 cash bail was set. All three suspects were unable to post bail and were later transported to the Bristol County House of Corrections in New Bedford. All three suspects will be brought into Taunton District court on Monday November 16, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. for arraignment on the charges.

This arrest was made possible due to the tremendous teamwork and cooperation by all of the personnel involved between the two departments.

-From the Rehoboth Police Department