Billerica Police | MA

Top row, left to right: Billerica Sgt. John Harring, Danvers Police Officer Justin Ellenton, Chelmsford Police Officer Nicholas Ziminsky and Chelmsford Police Officer David Leo.
Bottom row, left to right: Burlington Police Officer Joe Papsedero, Waltham Police Officer Chuck DiChiara, Andover Police Officer Micheal Connor, Belmont Police Officer Cory Taylor. (Courtesy Photo)

BILLERICA — Chief Daniel Rosa is pleased to announce that Billerica Police Sgt. John Harring was one of eight municipal law enforcement officers from Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) to attend an advanced search and rescue and suspect tracking course offered by the Department of Homeland Security.

The five-day class was held from March 27-31 in San Diego, Calif. Homeland Security Agent Christopher Hoelter led the class, which is called the BORTAC Tracking Course (Border Patrol Tactical Unit Tracking Course.)

The course included day and night scenarios, where officers learned how to find a “sign” and then use it to locate a missing person or suspect. A sign is a disturbance in the environment, often very small, that a person or group of people leave when travelling through an area. Students completed up to eight hours of practical exercises tracking the training staff.

“Our NEMLEC K-9 handlers respond to numerous missing person cases and suspect searches in our member communities and it is always important to sharpen our skills,” said Sgt. Harring, supervisor of the NEMLEC K-9 unit. “The tactics that our handlers learned during this training will enhance the skill sets they regularly use while working with their K-9 partners.”

This is the first time a municipal police agency has been asked to attend the class. The following NEMLEC officers attending the training:

• Officer David Leo, Chelmsford Police K-9
• Officer Nicholas Ziminsky, Chelmsford Police SWAT
• Officer Michael Connor, Andover Police K-9
• Officer Chuck DiChara, Waltham Police SWAT
• Officer Cory Taylor, Belmont Police K-9
• Officer Joe Papsedero, Burlington Police K-9
• Sgt. John N. Harring, Billerica Police K-9
• Officer Justin Ellenton, Danvers Police SWAT/K-9

Homeland Security Agent Christopher Hoelter was the lead instructor for the BORTAC Tactical Tracking Course. (Courtesy Photo)

Billerica – On Thursday, February 23, 2017, at approximately 3:00 AM, Billerica Police responded to the area of Route 3 North by exits 27 and 28 for a report of a failure to stop pursuit by Bedford Police. Information received from Bedford Police indicated that they were in pursuit of a vehicle previously having been sought by the Revere Police Department for a serious domestic related incident in their city. Furthermore, it was also learned that said vehicle was previously pursued by the Massachusetts State Police on various roadways in the Commonwealth following the incident in Revere.

Upon responding to Route 3 northbound in the area of exit 28, Officer Robert Moran was rammed from behind by the suspect vehicle, described as a blue 2009 Hyundai Sonata. At the time Officer Moran was rammed from behind, his police cruiser was in motion with its emergency lights activated. Both the Billerica Police Cruiser and the Hyundai Sonata were seriously damaged and disabled from the collision. Officer Moran, who sustained undetermined, non-life threatening injuries from the collision, was later transported to Lahey Hospital in Burlington. The operator of the Hyundai Sonata, subsequently identified as the individual being sought by Revere Police as Carolos Lomba, 45, of Revere, fled the scene on foot. A perimeter containment area was set up with assistance from Bedford and Mass State Police. After an approximate one hour search, Billerica Police apprehended Carlos Lomba following a short foot pursuit in the area of the Route 3 southbound off ramp by Treble Cove Road and Esquire Road.

Carlos Lomba was booked at the Billerica Police Department on numerous charges related to the operation of his vehicle on Route 3 and subsequent arrest, including Reckless Operation of a MV, Speeding, Marked Lanes Violations, Failure to Stop for Police, Leaving Scene of Motor Vehicle Accident with Personal Injury, and Resisting Arrest. Additional charges related to the collision into the Billerica Police cruiser are being sought by the Massachusetts State Police. Moreover, Carlos Lomba faces a litany of charges from the Bedford Police and Revere Police. Mr. Lomba will be arraigned on Billerica Police charges in Lowell District Court later today.

**All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court

Billerica – On Thursday, December 8, 2016, at approximately 2:30 PM, detectives from the Billerica
and Tewksbury Police Department arrested Joel Perez-Matos, 31, currently living in Acton, MA for charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine (subsequent offense) in Billerica. Perez-Matos was stopped by detectives following tips received from Billerica residents of suspicious activity in the North Billerica area. A subsequent roadside search of his motor vehicle by a Billerica narcotics sniffing canine lead to the discovery of a large amount of individually packaged quantities of what is believed to be heroin and cocaine. In addition, approximately $1,600 in various denominations of U.S. Currency was located on the defendant. Perez-Matos provided a false name to officers on scene but was later positively identified through his fingerprints. Perez-Matos was previously deported to the Dominican Republic in 2012 following a Massachusetts State Prison term for similar offenses. In addition to the drug charges, Perez-Matos is being charged with Operating with a Suspended driver’s license. He will be arraigned in Lowell District Court on December 9, 2016.

**All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court

Any additional questions should be directed to Deputy Chief Roy Frost, 978-215-9653