New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
At 12:45 p.m., the Taunton Police Department received a report from Coyle Cassidy High School stating that an unknown individual, identifying himself as a police officer, approached a student outside the Holy Rosary Church in Taunton, and told him to have all the students go back inside the school for safety. The Taunton Police and the State Police responded to the area to investigate. The male subject, who was described as 6 feet tall, departed the scene in a blue vehicle.
At 2:00 p.m., the Taunton Police received calls of the same vehicle on State Street by Lawrence Street. The callers stated the operator claimed to be a police officer and that he stated he was looking for an escaped convict. Trooper Gray Berlo of the MSP K-9 Unit observed a blue 2011 Hyundai on Bay Street and advised he was stopping the vehicle. Trooper Jason Vital and Sergeant Kenny Wong arrived as backup to assist with the stop. The driver of the vehicle, 57-year-old SETH E. AMIDON of Taunton, was taken into custody after a handgun was observed under his driver seat. Closer inspection of the handgun revealed it to be a pellet gun.
During the investigation, a witness from the State Street call to Taunton Police identified the subject as the man who stated he was a plainclothes police officer. The Troopers turned AMIDON over to Taunton Police, who transported him to the Taunton Police Department for booking. Lieutenant Nichols of the Taunton Police Department confirmed that AMIDON is charged with the following offenses:
- 6 counts of Impersonating a Police Officer
- 6 counts of Disorderly Conduct
- Disturbing a School Assembly
AMIDON is being held on $5,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Taunton District Court at 9 a.m. Thursday morning.
The Taunton Police are seeking any residents that may have had interaction with AMIDON to contact Sergeant William Henault at the Taunton Police Headquarters at (508) 824-7522. AMIDON is believed to be responsible for identifying himself as a police officer at the Coyle Cassidy School Annex and in the Hopewell Park and Whittenton areas of Taunton.
No further information is available at this time. Future investigations in this case will be conducted the Taunton Police. Please do not call the barracks.
