Yesterday afternoon, pursuant to confidential information received, officers from the Boston Drug Unit learned that a wanted armed bank robbery suspect was staying in the Roxbury area. Officers confirmed the warrant and noted that the suspect’s history indicated a likelihood of violence when confronted by officers.
Officers set up surveillance on the suspect and around 3:35PM, officers observed an individual matching the suspect description walk out of 189 Highland St. to a car parked nearby. The suspect started the car and drove off before officers could stop him. A short distance later, officers attempted to stop the suspect by conducting a traffic stop but he failed to stop. The suspect took off from officers and continued down several streets before he crashed his car into a tree in the area of Columbus Ave. and Centre Street. The suspect, after crashing his car, took off on foot pursued by officers.
Officers quickly caught up with the suspect who violently resisted officers’ attempts to handcuff him. The suspect fought with officers and during their attempt to secure his hands the suspect reached to his waistband and tried to pull a loaded firearm from his waistband to assist in his efforts to fight off officers. After a lengthy and hard fought battle with the suspect, officers were able to gain control of him, disarm him and handcuff him.
After the suspect was placed under arrest, officers discovered the gun he had in his waistband to be loaded, the car he was driving stolen, and a stolen police badge in the suspect’s wallet.
The suspect, Louis Barton, 54 of Everett was arrested and charged with Failure to Stop for a Police Officer, numerous counts of Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Armed Robbery of a Bank warrant, Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon warrant, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Class B with Intent for drugs found on his person during booking, two counts of Receiving Stolen Property, Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Revoked License and Being an Armed Career Criminal. In addition to the above criminal charges, the suspect will face a host of other motor vehicle violations.