UPDATED PRESS RELEASE:
UPDATED RELEASE
Mr. Theodore William Newton has been located and taken into custody.
On February 23, 2019 Detectives from the Wellesley Police Department began investigating an incident that occurred at 7:09 p.m. where an officer was injured and dragged by a motor vehicle on Route 9 East after attempting to take Mr. Theodore Newton into custody during a motor vehicle stop. Through their investigation Detectives learned Mr. Newton may possibly be in Boston. The Detectives also learned that Mr. Newton had been the passenger in a 2019 Kia Optima that had been stopped by the Boston Police earlier in the evening.
On February 24, 2019 at approximately 12:50 a.m. a Massachusetts State Police Trooper conducted a motor vehicle stop on Route 84 West of a 2019 Kia Optima. While the Trooper was speaking with the operator of the vehicle a male party in the rear of the vehicle asked why the vehicle had been stopped. The Trooper then requested his identification and he indicated he did not have one and stated his name was Brendan Newton. While speaking with this individual the Trooper noted that he had a neck tattoo.
The Trooper went to his cruiser and he was advised by the communications center that the vehicle was wanted in connection to a motor vehicle stop that had occurred in Wellesley on February 23, 2019 where an officer was injured as a vehicle fled the scene. He was further advised that the suspect wanted from that encounter had a neck tattoo and was provided with an image of Mr. Theodore Newton. The Trooper returned to the Kia and asked the rear passenger to step out of the vehicle so he could speak with him further. At that time, he confirmed that despite having identified himself as Brendan Newton, the passenger was in fact Theodore Newton. He was taken into custody and transported to the C5 Sturbridge State Police Barracks where he was processed and later released to the Wellesley Police Department.
Mr. Theodore Newton is being held without bail and will be transported to Dedham District Court on February 25, 2019. He is being charged with Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Resisting Arrest, Failure to Stop for a Police Officer While Operating a Motor Vehicle, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident with Personal Injury, Malicious Destruction of Property Over $250, Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License.
The Wellesley Police Department would like to thank the Boston Police Department and The Massachusetts State Police for their assistance in locating and taking Mr. Newton into custody.
The Wellesley Police Officer who was injured during the motor vehicle stop on February 23, 2019 was released from the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and home recovering.
PREVIOUS PRESS RELEASE:
On February 23, 2019 at 7:09 p.m. a Wellesley Police Officer stopped a motor vehicle on Worcester Street at Route 128. The vehicle was a silver 2017 Nissan Altima bearing a temporary registration tag 38C7291 believed to be from Texas. A query of the information revealed that the vehicle was stolen out of Delaware. The officer attempted to take the suspect into custody, at which point a struggle ensued and the suspect began driving eastbound on Worcester Street dragging the officer. The officer was dragged approximately 15 feet before he was able to free himself from the vehicle. The officer was transported to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
The operator of the vehicle is believed to be Theodore William Newton, a 37-year-old black male from Newark, Delaware. He is described as 5’9”, thin build, with close trimmed facial hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black winter wool cap, black winter puffy jacket and dark colored jeans. Mr. Newton is wanted by the Wellesley Police Department for various motor vehicle related charges, Assault and Battery on a Police Officer With a Dangerous Weapon and Resisting Arrest.
This is an active investigation and no further information is available at this time.