Taunton, MA - Police Car Stolen From Police Station With High Powered Weapon In The Back Seat - Police Car Found 10 Ft. From River Running In Drive.
Taunton Dailey Gazette
Taunton — A disgruntled and apparently highly intoxicated Ingell Street
resident swiped a cruiser from the back of the police station shortly before
midnight on Wednesday. The suspect and car were located about 30 minutes after
it was noticed missing from the parking lot, police said.
The police car was found running and still in drive between the edge of a wooded
area and a railroad bed within 10 feet of the Taunton River. Troy Lecornec,
31, who lives nearby at 111 Ingell St., was arrested for the theft after a brief
altercation with officers Frederick Bolton and Ian Macrotte.
Lecornec was arraigned Thursday morning in Taunton District Court on charges of
third offense drunk driving, auto theft, two counts of assault and battery on a
police officer, disorderly conduct, theft of a firearm and other weapons
charges. Judge James McGovern ordered him held on no bail and scheduled a
hearing for Oct. 14.
Taunton police officials did not return phone calls seeking additional comment
about the incident, but reports show that Lecornec became the chief suspect
after an encounter with police earlier in the evening when two officers drove
him home from 487 Weir St.
Lecornec was described as a drunk and “unwanted guest” during the incident, and
told police he wanted to start a fight with a Taunton police officer.
Patrolman Peter MacDougall told Lecornec to address the matter at the police
station after sobering up. Lecornec, however, only heeded half the advice,
according to reports. Soon after he was dropped at his residence on Ingell St.,
the man walked to the police station and asked to speak with the officer he
earlier told police he wanted to fight.
Lecornec became impatient after waiting about 20 minutes in the police
station lobby. A surveillance video showed him walking into the parking lot,
opening the door of cruiser No. 239, which had a loaded high capacity rifle
inside, and speeding away on High Street with the headlights off.
Approximately 20 minutes passed before police discovered the vehicle missing and
issued an alert. Upon hearing the description of the suspect, officers from the
earlier incident headed back to Lecornec’s neighborhood. They spotted the
missing vehicle near the railroad crossing not far from Lecornec’s house. It
was later towed from the area, but did appear to have been damaged. The rifle
was recovered from the car.
Bolton and Marcotte found Lecornec standing in the yard at 107 Ingell St.
According to another officer at the scene, he approached the officers “in an
aggressive manner” and swore repeatedly. As police attempted to take him into
custody, Lecornec allegedly slammed Marcotte in the chest with his head. After a
brief struggle, Lecornec was handcuffed and returned to the police station where
he allegedly failed a field sobriety test and was arrested.
Reports didn’t say which officer was using the cruiser that night.
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