Andover Police Frame Man.
Read about the cover-up in the Eagle-Tribune here:
Http://www.eagletribune.com/news/stories1229/LN_002.htm
The andover Chief of Police is hilarious as he states that they were using helicopters to search for this man to make sure he was safe. What a schmuck!
Friday, December 29
Defense lawyer: Fugitive still in hiding out of fear
By Shawn Regan
Eagle-Tribune Writer
ANDOVER — The attorney for fugitive John J. Shaughnessy says police "made up" a story that his client resisted arrest and ran from officers last week, an incident that led to an all-out manhunt by local police, dogs and a state police helicopter.
"Mr. Shaughnessy called me in a very emotional state the night the 'manhunt' story ran in the newspaper (Dec. 20) saying the police never told him he was under arrest, " Methuen attorney Robert C. Leblanc said. "They told him they weren't going to let him drive the car, but that since he lived about a half-mile away, he could walk home."
Mr. Shaughnessy, 24, was pulled over by police on Dec. 19 in his green Cadillac El Dorado for not having a second license plate on the front of his car, police said. A computer check revealed Mr. Shaughnessy's license was suspended and that he was wanted by Newburyport District Court on a default warrant related to motor vehicle charges, police said.
Officer Peter J. Reming said Mr. Shaughnessy "pushed away" from him as he attempted to arrest him and place him in handcuffs. Mr. Shaughnessy then fled into the woods, Officer Reming said.
Police Chief Brian J. Pattullo discounted as "ridiculous" Mr. Leblanc's allegation that officers fabricated an escape story.
"I stand by the actions of my officers 100 percent, " Chief Pattullo said. "Attorney Leblanc is questioning the integrity of the department, but I question the integrity of him and his client. I suggest he convince his client to turn himself in to Lawrence District Court or the Andover Police Department immediately."
Chief Pattullo said Mr. Shaughnessy, of 14 Osgood St., is wanted on charges including assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, possessing a dangerous weapon, driving a motor vehicle with a suspended license and failure to display proper license plates.
Mr. Leblanc did not report Mr. Shaughnessy's Dec. 20 phone call to police, but said he is only obliged to contact police if he believes a client is about to break the law.
"I advised him to turn himself in, " Mr. Leblanc said. "I volunteered to go with him to the police station, but he's scared to death. I keep hoping he's going to call and tell me he's ready to come in, but he believes he's being set up."
Mr. Leblanc alleges that police let Mr. Shaughnessy go, but then reconsidered and went after to him. The situation was escalated to "a whole new level, " Mr. Leblanc believes, when the state police unexpectedly intervened.
"I believe the local police planned on quietly going back after him without making a big deal about it, " the attorney said. "But when the state police showed up, they made up the story about him escaping."
Chief Pattullo confirmed local police did not call the state police for help.
"The state police heard on the radio that we were after someone, " the chief said. "They called us to say they were nearby on the Merrimack River and could help out. They were on the scene very quickly."
The chief said officers searched homes in the area and the banks of the Merrimack River because they believed Mr. Shaughnessy may have tried to cross the river to escape police.
"The extensive search was as much to make sure he was all right as it was to catch to him, " the chief said.
Mr. Leblanc said that local police are "after" Mr. Shaughnessy for what he allegedly knows about a string of robberies in Andover.
"After the police illegally interrogated Mr. Shaughnessy a week earlier (Dec. 12), a detective told me 'don't worry, we're not interested in what your client did, just what he knows, " Mr. Leblanc said.
When Mr. Shaughnessy was arrested by Andover Police on motor vehicle charges Dec. 12, Mr. Leblanc alleges detectives subjected Mr. Shaughnessy to an "unconstitutionally inquiry."
"A detective called me to tell me they had my client in custody, " Mr. Leblanc said. "He said they wanted to question him about a some break-ins in Andover. I said sure, after I talk to him, we'll talk to you and try to answer your questions. But then they went ahead and interviewed him for an hour without me."
Mr. Leblanc disputes all the outstanding charges against his client. He said he had cleared up the Newburyport default prior to his client being stopped by police Dec. 19, but that a default was mistakenly entered in the computer. As for the driving with a revoked license charge, Mr. Leblanc said Mr. Shaughnessy's driving license had been reinstated by the Registry of Motor Vehicles on Dec. 19.
"Mr. Shaughnessy had a letter in his car saying that the registry had reinstated his license, " Mr. Leblanc said.
Chief Pattullo said there was no such letter in Mr. Shaughnessy's car, but declined to produce a copy of the police inventory saying "the case is coming up at trial."
Mr. Shaughnessy is also charged with possession of a dangerous weapon. Police said they confiscated two skull-shaped rings with protruding metal spikes from Mr. Shaughnessy's car. Officer Reming said Mr. Shaughnessy told another officer that he has used the rings to hit people. Officer Reming said police confiscated the rings from Mr. Shaughnessy's car after he fled on Dec. 19. Mr. Leblanc said police seized the rings from his client a week before, during the Dec. 12 interrogation.
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