5 arrested from multiple communities after stolen vehicle involved in funeral procession catches air at MA cemetery

In an incident that sounds like it was taken out of a movie, 5 were arrested after a stolen vehicle involved in a funeral caught air in a Massachusetts cemetery.

According to police, on Thursday, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Braintree Police Officers noticed a stolen motor vehicle wanted in connection with a carjacking in another community. The vehicle was participating in a funeral procession.

Rather than attempt to stop the vehicle, the officers monitored the vehicle and asked for other units’ assistance. Additional officers and plainclothes detectives responded. To lessen the danger to bystanders and the public at large, a plan was developed to stop the vehicle after the services at Blue Hill Cemetery.

When detectives and patrol officers attempted to stop the vehicle inside of the cemetery, the operator fled. Because police were at the exits, the vehicle attempted to drive over the lawn, landscaping, and bushes to access West Street. Instead, the car hit a large boulder behind a bush, went airborne, and crashed onto West Street. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved and there were no injuries.

The five occupants fled and after foot pursuits and searches, all were eventually taken into custody without further incident.

During the search, Braintree High School was briefly placed into a shelter-in-place.

The operator of the vehicle, a juvenile, was arrested and charged with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Unlicensed Operation, Failure to Stop for Police, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Malicious Damage over $1200.

21-year-old Melanie Lopes from Brockton was charged with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon.

21-year-old Avonte Taylor from Dorchester was charged with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

20-year-old Giovannie Cordova from Boston was charged with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

Another juvenile was charged with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

Several area communities provided mutual aid in the incident.