OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE SCITUATE POLICE DEPARTMENT SCITUATE, MASSACHUSETTS 02066 / TELEPHONE (781) 545-1212 / FAX (781) 545-9659 W. MICHAEL STEWART CHIEF OF POLICE Incident Summary SPD Case #17-17370 October 10 th 2017
On Tuesday, October 10 th 2017 at 0824hrs, the Scituate Emergency Communications Center received a call for a well-being check of a 46-year old male party that had exited a motor vehicle on Chief Justice Cushing Highway in the vicinity of the Public Safety Complex (800 CJC Hwy) and was now walking northbound on CJC Highway. After an area search by Scituate Police officers yielded negative results, the Emergency Communications Center received a call from the male party (now identified as SIMONOVITCH, DOUGLAS) that he had made his way into the woods and was armed with a knife and a gun. SIMONOVITCH stated that he would harm himself or police if approached. Through further conversations with SIMONOVITCH, it was believed that he was armed with (2) Kimber Model 1911.45 Caliber handguns, 14 rounds of ammunition and a K-Bar military knife. SIMONOVITCH was also believed to be a military combat veteran. Based on the perceived threat level, the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (METRO-LEC) was notified and a request for additional assets was made. METRO-LEC is a regional consortium of law enforcement agencies which the Scituate Police Department is a member. METRO-LEC provides highly specialized resources such as SWAT operators and equipment, K-9 teams, crisis negotiators and enhanced command capabilities. Additionally, the Massachusetts State Police provided additional K-9 resources, as well as air support from State Police helicopters equipped with FLIR cameras (Forward Looking Infrared). Scituate Police officers formed an initial perimeter around the area of the Ellis Estate, with borders at Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Country Way, Mann Lot Road and Booth Hill Road. Traffic was diverted along the perimeter and notifications were made to the Town Administrator and School Department regarding the situation. Scituate High School, Gates Middle School and Cushing School were all placed into a "stay in place status as the incident unfolded. Additional notifications were made to residents via Code Red (reverse 911) and social media. Over the course of the next 5 ½ hours, SWAT and negotiation teams narrowed in on the location of SIMONOVITCH, ultimately determining his location to be just north of the Public Safety Building. Just before 1300hrs, METRO-SWAT formed an arrest team, which included Scituate Police & SWAT Officer James Donovan, to approach the subject under cover of the METRO Rook an armored track vehicle. SIMONOVICH was subsequently taken into custody without incident and transported to the Scituate Public Safety Complex for booking. SIMONOVICH was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Hingham District Court for a restraining order violation, as well as new charges stemming from the incident with Scituate Police. These charges include: Threats to Commit a Crime (Murder) Assault with a Dangerous Weapon Disorderly Conduct Resisting Arrest Subsequent to booking, SIMONOVICH was transported to South Shore Hospital. He was arraigned at the hospital on October 11 th and continues to be held under guard by the Plymouth County Sheriff s Department.
This incident resulted in a significant law enforcement presence from a multitude of agencies. The mutual aid response that we immediately received from Marshfield, Norwell, Hingham and Cohasset was invaluable to aid with initial perimeter security and traffic concerns. A vast majority of off-duty Scituate Police Officers also responded to the scene to lend assistance. Chief Murphy and members of the Scituate Fire Department were instrumental in providing support throughout the entire event. The amount of logistical support which is required to manage an incident and multi-agency response of this magnitude cannot be understated. The Public Safety Complex, which served as the base of operations for the incident, proved to be an absolutely critical component to achieve success. Command and Control was run out of the EOC and adjacent Command Posts, a suspect negotiations suite was established in the briefing room, the interview rooms were utilized to bring in witnesses and the dispatch area handled the incredible volume of communications that took place. The following agencies responded to assist with the incident: Responding METRO-LEC Agencies: Bellingham Police Department Canton Police Department Cohasset Police Department Duxbury Police Department Hanover Police Department Hingham Police Department Hull Police Department Mansfield Police Department Marshfield Police Department Norfolk County Police Department Plainville Police Department Plymouth County Sheriff s Department Plymouth Police Department Quincy Police Department Randolph Police Department Rockland Police Department Wayland Police Department Wellesley Police Department Wrentham Police Department Responding State Law Enforcement Assets: Massachusetts State Police - Airwing (Air-2 & Air-4) Massachusetts State Police - K-9 Massachusetts State Police D-Troop Command Massachusetts Environmental Police K-9 (EOD) Responding Federal Agencies: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) Negotiations & K-9 (EOD) Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
Chief Stewart and MSP D-Troop Command discuss tactical options and review the situation from the Emergency Operations Center. A cellular ping of SIMONOVICH s phone allows officers to narrow in on his position.
METRO-LEC Command Posts (CP) are established outside of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) METRO Communications and live-video feeds from MSP Air-4 are routed directly through the CP.
A SWAT Officer awaits instructions outside the CP as the tactical plan is formulated for deploying the Rook Lt. Steverman and ACO Stewart discuss information which is coming in through 911 in the Emergency Communications Center. Additional METRO resources pass by an SPD traffic post amid throngs of media coverage.
Deputy Chief Thompson and Sgt. Bulman discuss perimeter boundaries and traffic planning outside the METRO CP. The Rook is ready to be deployed.
Scituate Officer Brad Stenbeck stands by with METRO SWAT as they begin to take up tactical positions on Route 3A. Scituate Police Officer & METRO SWAT Operator James Donovan takes a tactical post at the front corner of the Bearcat.
Two Armored Bearcats and the Rook are positioned on Route 3A. Scituate Officer James Donovan and SWAT Element Leader Chris Baker prepare to make entry under cover of the Rook Scituate Officer Donovan and a fellow SWAT member emerge from the woods with SIMONOVITCH
SIMONOVITCH is taken to an awaiting Scituate Police Cruiser to be transported to the Public Safety Complex. Scituate Officer Brian McLaughlin a member of METRO SWAT & K-9 Team - heads into the PSC following the incident.