Police: Hospital wheelchair van wasn’t the only thing these two stole
State police arrested the driver and passenger, 22-year-old Daniel Walsh of Melrose and 23-year-old Nicholas Burke of Peabody.
After chasing a stolen hospital wheelchair transport van through Peabody on Thursday, state troopers found the vehicle was full of hundreds of dollars worth of shoplifted clothing.
The van was reportedly stolen from MelroseWakefield hospital around 6:30 a.m. when it arrived to pick up a patient who was being discharged, according to Melrose police.
State troopers’ attempt to stop the van led to a car case toward Lynn. The driver was trying to pass other cars to evade officers, a release said.
The hospital van had a flat tire by the time it struck an unoccupied Ford Explorer in Lynn, forcing it to stop.
Photos of stolen wheelchair ambulance after it crashed following MSP attempt to stop. Troopers have 2 under arrest. Suspects also being investigated for possible shoplifting from Kohl’s in Saugus this morning, prior to our locating van. https://t.co/54Sgw3yyID pic.twitter.com/iFvaWRTbaB
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 19, 2019
Officers found several hundred dollars worth of men’s clothing in the van, which the driver and passenger apparently shoplifted around 9:30 a.m. from a Kohl’s in Saugus and then loaded into the stolen vehicle, police said.
FURTHER UPDATE – We’ve recovered hundreds of $ of men’s clothing (shown) the 2 men shoplifted from Kohl’s this morning, after the theft of the ambulance. Suspects expected to be arraigned tomorrow in Peabody Court. We will release names/charges later today. Great work by Troop A. https://t.co/NjchFX9RjE pic.twitter.com/uvmUA9G0wz
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 19, 2019
State police arrested and charged 22-year-old Daniel Walsh of Melrose and 23-year-old Nicholas Burke of Peabody for the crimes.
Walsh, the driver, faces charges of receiving a stolen motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating with a suspended license, committing a marked lanes violation, larceny, and shoplifting.
Burke, the passenger, was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, larceny, and shoplifting.
Melrose Police will pursue charges for the theft of the hospital van.
The duo was schedule to be arraigned Friday in Peabody District Court.
