On 10/31/16 the  Rehoboth Police responded to an armed robbery at the Exxon Gas Station located at #238 Winthrop Street.  At approx. 2250hrs two masked white males entered the store brandishing knives while threatening to stab the store clerk.  The clerk was ordered to the floor at knife point and told to open the cash draw and safe.  The clerk was unable to open the safe, however, one of the suspects removed an undisclosed amount of  cash from the register.  Also taken during the robbery were several packs of cigarettes. Video surveillance from the store shows the two males approach the store on foot wearing all dark colored clothing and nylon type masks. The clerk describe the first suspect as thin build approx. 5’10” tall and second suspect was a medium “heavier” build approx..  6’ tall.  After approximately 2 minutes inside the store both suspects fled east on foot,  NO VEHICLE or further descriptions available at this time. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Sgt. Brian Ramos or Detective James Casey.

—–VIDEO SURVEILANCE IMAGES ATTACHED—-

On 10/04/16 at approximately 6:00pm the Rehoboth Police Department received a call from a concerned parent regarding threats being made over social media (Twitter).  The threats were directed at other users of Twitter and also mentioned the Dighton Rehoboth High School.  Due to the seriousness of the threats, Officer Gil Lima and Sgt. Richard Shailor initiated an immediate investigation into the matter. Officers were able to obtain information regarding the Twitter account being used to make the threats. They then used that information to track the creation and usage of that account to a home in Rehoboth. After interviewing subjects at that residence they were able to obtain a confession from a 17 year old juvenile. He was arrested and charged with Threats to Commit a crime, and  making a Threat Concerning the location of dangerous items (Firearm). He was later bailed and released to his parents. The case has been forwarded to Taunton Juvenile Court for prosecution.  Detective James Casey also assisted throughout the investigation.

Based on our investigation and interviews it does not appear that any student or resident was in any actual danger.  The arrested juvenile admitted that it was a “prank” attempting to feed off of the current clown frenzy in the area.  The Rehoboth Police Department would like to caution anyone considering similar behavior that it will be met with arrest and prosecution.

          On Thursday 09/15/2016 at approximately 0608 hours Rehoboth Police Officers were dispatched to Cumberland Farms located at 232 Winthrop Street for a 911 hang up telephone call.  Officer Jacob Miranda arrived first and spoke with a female employee to check to see if everything was okay.  Officer Miranda asked her if she had called 911and the employee stated that she did not have the telephone because 20 minutes earlier a male customer had taken the cordless phone out of the store with him and he was sitting in his car talking on the phone.  Officer Miranda then exited the store and walked towards a gray 2005 Saturn Vue with a Massachusetts registration plates to speak with the subject.  He observed a white male subject sitting in the front passenger side of the vehicle and when the subject saw Officer Miranda he immediately exited the passenger side door and placed his right hand underneath his sweatshirt. He reportedly told the officer to “Get the (expletive omitted) out of here before I blow this place up”.  When asked to repeat himself, the subject reportedly told the officer “I will blow this place up” and “I have a gun”.  Officer Miranda then returned to his police cruiser to back up to a safe distance to monitor the subject. A short time later Officer Craig Warish and Sergeant Brian Ramos arrived on scene to assist and to set up a perimeter around the scene of the incident in order to shut down traffic and remove everyone from the area.  Sgt. Ramos attempted to establish contact with the subject several times, but he would only start yelling and screaming and then sit back inside the passenger side of the car.  Because the officers were unable to engage the subject in any meaningful dialogue, Sgt. Ramos requested the assistance of the SEMLEC (South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council) SWAT Team and mutual aid assistance from both Seekonk and Dighton Police Department to assist in shutting down all traffic in the area.  At approximately 0730 hours SEMLEC SWAT members arrived on scene and took over command of the incident.  During this time a SWAT Team member observed the subject attempt to light a gas pump nozzle on fire with a lighter.  The subject was identified as Benjamin Kimball, age 38, from North Attleboro, MA.  SEMLEC Crisis Negotiation personnel attempted to resolve the situation with the subject, but after negotiating with Mr. Kimball for approximately 3 hours they were unable to get him to surrender to the officers.    The SWAT Team commanders then decided that they had no choice but to move in and extract Mr. Kimball from the vehicle. He abruptly moved to the driver’s seat and attempted to flee in the vehicle by striking the SWAT Team vehicles.   His attempt to flee was unsuccessful and when the SWAT Team members moved in to arrest Mr. Kimball, he jumped out of the driver’s side door of the vehicle and started running eastbound in the parking lot of Cumberland Farms. The SWAT officers attempted to restrain Mr. Kimball and take him into custody, but he refused to comply until he was subdued by a SWAT Team K-9.  At approximately 1120 hours Mr. Kimball was taken into custody by the SEMLEC SWAT Team and Rehoboth Police Department Officers.  He was then transported to Morton Hospital by a Rehoboth Ambulance to be treated for his injuries.  The Massachusetts State Police Bomb Unit was called and they arrived on scene.  After checking the vehicle and the building the Bomb Unit deemed it safe from any explosive devices. The vehicle was transported back to the Rehoboth Police Department for further investigation and inventory by Rehoboth Police Detectives.  At approximately2042 hours Benjamin Kimball was booked at the Rehoboth Police Station will be charged with the following offenses: (1) Attempted Arson of a Gas Station; (2) Making a False Bomb Threat; (3) Disorderly Conduct; (4) Disturbing the Peace; (5) Three (3) counts of Threat to Commit a Crime; (6) Attempt to Commit a Crime; (7) Resisting Arrest; and (8) Two (2) counts of Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon.  Clerk-Magistrate Claudia Abreau of the Taunton District Court ordered Mr. Kimball to be held without bail at the Rehoboth Police Station until court tomorrow morning.

    On 07/06/2016 at approximately 5:51pm The Rehoboth Police Department was dispatched to the intersection of Simmons St. and Hornbine Rd. for a reported two car motor vehicle crash. Members of the Rehoboth Ambulance and Fire Department were also dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival officers observed 2 motor vehicles in the roadway. A 1995 Toyota pick up truck and a 2008 Accura TL. The female operator of the Accura was still in the vehicle and initial responders had to remove the door of the vehicle so she could be treated.  The 21 year old operator had sustained serious injuries in the crash.  She was transported to Rhode Island Hospital where she later succumbed to those injuries.  The two occupants of the pick up truck were also transported to Rhode Island Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries. After initial investigation it appears that the Toyota pick up was travelling West on Hornbine Rd. and the Accura was travelling South on Simmons St.  The two vehicles collided as the Accura was turning on to Hornbine Rd. Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash. The crash is being investigated by The Rehoboth Police Department and  The Massachusetts State Police. Officers were assisted at the scene by the Swansea Police Department and the Swansea Ambulance.  

On April 24, 2016 at approximately 3:15pm Rehoboth Police responded to the area of Fall River Ave (RT 6) and Barney Ave for a motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival on scene Officers observed a red 2000 Ford Expedition had crashed through the front of the building located at 54 Fall River Ave. The building had one business occupant, the Silver Willow. The business was opened at the time of the crash and two employees and two customers that were in the store were unharmed. At this time it appears the red Ford Expedition being operated by Michael Burrus age 55 from Seekonk Massachusetts was travelling east on Fall River Ave. when his vehicle suddenly swerved to the left. The vehicle traveled across the roadway, across the two west bound lanes of travel and struck a 2005 Infinity that was stopped at the stop sign on Barney Ave at Fall River Ave. The force of the collision pushed the Infinity across Barney Ave causing it to collide with a truck that was parked in a driveway near the intersection. The operator of the Infinity was alone and uninjured in the crash. The Ford continued travelling north east across a small parking area and then crashing into the building. The crash is currently under investigation, and Burrus is being charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Revoked License (subsequent offence) Operating a motor vehicle so as to endanger, Marked Lane Violations.
Rehoboth Police were assisted at the scene by the Rehoboth Fire Department, Rehoboth Ambulance, and the Rehoboth Building Inspector.