MELROSE — Chief Michael Lyle reports that the Melrose Police Department arrested a man today after he allegedly attempted to break into a home and nearly struck an officer with a car as he fled the scene, causing the officer to discharge his firearm.
GREGORY MAITRE, AGE 25, of SALEM, has been charged with:
- Attempt to Commit Crime/ Breaking and Entering Daytime
- Trespass
- Unlicensed Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
- Assault to Murder
- Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
On Thursday at approximately 9:10 a.m. a Melrose Officer responded to a Forest Street residence for a report of an attempted break-in in progress. A verbal exchange was had between a resident and the suspect at the scene before the suspect fled.
While en route, police were informed that the suspect, MAITRE, had fled the scene down Hopkins Street in a white sedan. Responding officers were driving southbound on Lebanon Street when the suspect, MAITRE, allegedly drove toward them as he fled northbound on Lebanon Street and swerved toward their vehicle before turning onto Sylvan Street.
Police entered into a vehicle pursuit, and while the sedan was driving on Sylvan Street a member of the department working a detail was nearly struck by the vehicle as he attempted to block the roadway with his personal vehicle. The officer discharged three rounds from his firearm in an attempt to defend himself. Nobody was struck by the rounds the officer fired, and he ultimately was forced to jump out of the way of the oncoming vehicle.
Police temporarily lost the vehicle in the pursuit, and later came upon the empty white sedan parked on Mt. Vernon Street. After K-9s arrived on scene to search the area, police located MAITRE, who was placed under arrest at approximately 9:30 a.m.
The investigation and search were supported by members of the Stoneham and Malden Police Departments, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and National Park Service.
MAITRE was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday via telephone.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
###
