Search for 'suspicious male' in E. Brookfield prompts schools to be on alert
EAST BROOKFIELD - A police search in the area of Podunk Road Wednesday morning prompted the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District superintendent to issue an advisory to students and parents in the district.
Police had a man in custody about 2:30 p.m. after an extensive search that lasted several hours.
According to Police Chief William C. Gregoire, an officer responded to a report of a “suspicious male” in a parked vehicle.
Gregoire said the officer approached the vehicle but the occupant would not comply with a request to step out of the vehicle. An argument ensued and the suspect fled into the woods.
The suspect’s vehicle had a stolen plate attached to conceal the vehicle’s true registration information, Gregoire said.
Police from East Brookfield and the state police searched the area for several hours.
Gregoire said the department is investigating other crimes that are possibly connected to the vehicle.
District School Superintendent Paul S. Haughey was notified by Gregoire that a search was being conducted in the Podunk Road area.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” Gregoire recommended to Haughey to inform the district that students in the Podunk Road and Howe Street area should be met off the bus by an adult, to be escorted home.
“We erred on the line of caution because we didn’t know what this guy was all about,” Gregoire said. “We didn’t have a positive ID on him at the time.”
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Search for 'suspicious male' in E. Brookfield prompts schools to be on alert
