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Manhunt ends in arrest of burglary suspect
Created by Cohasset Mariner on 24th March 2010, 6:52 amCOHASSET - A police manhunt for a homeless man who allegedly broke into his grandparents’ home on Gammons Road, resisted arrest and fought with police ended Sunday evening on Highland Avenue by St. Stephen’s Church.
Police have arrested Erik Replogle, 27, whose last known address is 50 Lambert Ave., Weymouth, following a 12-hour search that included alerting Cohasset residents within in a one-mile area of the incident through the reverse 9-1-1 telephone system to be on the lookout and to be aware that the suspect was considered dangerous. The phone messages included a description of the suspect.
An uncle, who is taking care of the home, called 9-1-1 at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday (March 21) after being startled by Replogle’s presence. Police said the uncle, who was unaware that the suspect has apparently been staying at a carriage house on the property, heard movement and called police.
Cohasset police responded to the Gammons Road home and encountered the suspect inside the home. Police said he refused to obey commands from officers and a violent fight ensued. During the fight, a Cohasset police officer and Replogle fell down a flight of approximately 16 stairs. Replogle, who was dressed in jeans and was not wearing a shirt or shoes, also grabbed another officer around the neck, police said.
Police suspected that Replogle was either high on drugs, drunk or both, Chief Mark DeLuca said. “He was under the influence to some degree,” DeLuca said. Police said he was not armed. At the time, police did not know Replogle was wanted on charges in Virginia and was a fugitive from justice.
After the altercation with the officers, the suspect fled the home. Police said he swam across Little Harbor from Gammons Road to Beach Street, left the water and he entered a wooded area off of Beach Street.
DeLuca said a resident saw the suspect get out of the water and called police who flooded the area. Police officers from Cohasset, assisted by K-9 officers from Hingham, Hull, Scituate, Duxbury, Weymouth, and Quincy Police launched an extensive search for the suspect but were unable to locate him.
The brush in the woods was so thick that the dogs could not track the suspect. Police from area towns were sent home around 1:30 p.m., DeLuca said.
Later police discovered the suspect apparently went through an open garage door on Beach Street and climbed into the trunk of a vehicle where he likely passed out. He found a shirt, which the vehicle owner used to check the oil, in the trunk and put it on.
At about 4:50 p.m., Replogle banged on the door of a Beach Street home and asked to use the phone. The homeowner told him there were phones in the village and called police. Officers then set up a new perimeter in the hope of trapping the suspect, DeLuca said.
Police said Replogle flagged down a car and asked for a ride to the train station. The motorist was giving him a lift when a Cohasset officer spotted the car with the suspect, who had a tattoo on the left side of his neck. The officer stopped the car and took the suspect out at gunpoint but he took off on foot again. Police pursued him through yards and ended up nabbing him in the courtyard of St. Stephen’s off Highland Avenue. They used pepper spray to subdue him.
Replogle was arraigned Monday (March 22) the following charges: two counts of assault and battery on a police officer; unarmed burglary; two counts of resisting arrest; disorderly conduct; breaking and entering a motor vehicle; and being a fugitive from justice. Replogle is wanted by the Spotsylania, Virginia Police Department for narcotics violations and grand larceny, police said. DeLuca said Replogle also faces extradition to Virginia.
The police officer, who was injured in the fight, was treated at a Boston hospital for minor injuries and will not miss any work, DeLuca said.
DeLuca praised his officers and the units from area towns.
“The officers handled the incident in an extremely professional manner,” DeLuca said. “They did a great job.”
DeLuca also thanked the residents who called police with information.
He explained that when a manhunt takes place, often the suspect is forced into a hiding position during the initial search and that is what occurred in this case.
