Town Of Wakefield: *Update #3* Shelter-In-Place Order Lifted

Press release from the Town of Wakefield:

July 3, 2021 - 9:03am

*Update #3* Towns of Wakefield, Stoneham, and Reading Report Shelter in Place is Lifted, All Suspects in Police CustodyUpdate #3: July 3, 2021; 11:25 a.m.

Municipal and public safety leaders of the Towns of Reading, Stoneham, and Wakefield report that all of the suspects believed to have been involved in the armed encounter with police on interstate 95 this morning have been taken into police custody.

The shelter in place orders for areas of Wakefield and Reading has been lifted. Areas under the shelter in place order included the Parker Road, Elm Street, and North Avenue area in Wakefield, and the Parker Road and Ash Street areas in Reading.

Residents can expect an increased police presence throughout the day as the investigation continues to be conducted.

Interstate 95 is expected to remain closed for some time today from Lynnfield to Stoneham, including the on-ramps in Stoneham.

No fewer than six police chiefs responded directly to the scene including: Wakefield Police Chief Steven Skory, Reading Police Chief David Clark, Stoneham Police Chief James McIntyre, Gloucester Police Chief Edward Conley, Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix, and Woburn Police Chief Robert Rufo. Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian also responded directly to the scene.

The Towns of Reading, Stoneham and Wakefield wish to thank the following agencies for their swift and adept response today:

• Wakefield Fire Department
• Reading Fire Department
• Stoneham Fire Department
• North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC)
  • Police Officers from dozens of police departments throughout Middlesex and Essex Counties responded through NEMLEC including: search and rescue, rapid response, SWAT, and K-9 units from Georgetown, Waltham, Ayer, Lowell, North Reading, Reading, Wakefield, Stoneham, Arlington, Newton, Salem, Littleton, Tewksbury, Burlington, Woburn, Andover, Beverly, Lynnfield, Sudbury, and Gloucester Police.
• Middlesex County Sheriff
• Essex County Sheriff
• Catalano Ambulance
• Armstrong Ambulance

The Towns of Reading, Stoneham, and Wakefield also extend a special thank you to volunteer organization Rehab Five of Beverly, who supported and supplied food and drinks for first responders this morning.

Wakefield and Reading Police Available to Escort Returning Residents and Business Owners to Homes, Businesses in Shelter in Place AreasUpdate #2: July 3, 2021; 10:20 a.m.

Municipal and public safety leaders in Wakefield, Stoneham and Reading wish to provide continuous updates to community members during the ongoing police activity due to armed suspects in the area.

Residents and business owners of the areas of Wakefield and Reading that are being advised to shelter in place who are not currently home and need to get back to their homes, or are seeking to access their businesses, are advised to go to their community's police station, either the Wakefield Police Station at 1 Union St., Wakefield or Reading Police Station at 15 Union St., Reading. Residents and business owners will be asked to present their IDs and will be escorted by a police officer to their homes or businesses. Police will perform a security check of the building to ensure the safety of everyone. 

Areas being asked to shelter in place include the Parker Road, Elm Street and North Avenue area in Wakefield, and the Parker Road and Ash Street areas in Reading. No shelter in place is in effect in any area of the Town of Stoneham at this time. I-95 remains closed from Lynnfield to Stoneham, and motorists are also advised to avoid that area. 

Residents in Reading, Stoneham, and Wakefield are advised to expect a significant police presence throughout the day, and all residents and business owners outside of the areas advised to shelter in place are urged to remain cautious while going about their day and opening their businesses.

Wakefield, Stoneham, and Reading Police continue to actively respond alongside the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) and Massachusetts State Police after armed suspects encountered police on interstate 95 early this morning.

This is a developing situation and more information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.### 

Towns of Wakefield, Reading Issue Shelter In PlaceUpdate #1: July 3, 2021; 9:02 a.m.

Wakefield Town Administrator Stephen Maio, Police Chief Steven Skory and Emergency Management Director Thomas Walsh; Stoneham Town Administrator Dennis Sheehan, Police Chief James McIntyre and Emergency Management Director Matt Grafton; and Reading Town Manager Robert LeLacheur, Reading Police Chief David Clark and Fire Chief Gregory Burns report some areas are being advised to shelter in place and others are urged to use caution due to possible armed suspects in the area. 

Areas being advised to shelter in place include the Parker Road, Elm Street and North Avenue area in Wakefield, and the Parker Road and Ash Street areas in Reading. In Stoneham, all residents are advised to use caution and avoid areas of town near Route 95. Route 95 has been closed from Lynnfield to Stoneham since approximately 4:30 a.m. and motorists are advised to avoid the area. Residents outside of the shelter in place may move about their day with caution, and businesses outside of those areas may open. Residents are also advised there will be a large police presence throughout the day. 

Wakefield, Stoneham and Reading Police continue to actively respond alongside the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council and Massachusetts State Police. 

This is a developing situation and more information will be shared as soon as it becomes available. View the Massachusetts State Police press conference from approximately 8:20 a.m. this morning by clicking here.

This press release was produced by the Town of Wakefield.The views expressed here are the author’s own.