New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Early this morning the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations Team (MSP STOP) made entry into a residence at 253 South St. in Athol and served an arrest warrant on an adult male wanted for threatening a state judge.
The entry and arrest were made at approximately 3 a.m. after a Troopers from Troop C and a State Police negotiator attempted for several hours to persuade the suspect, JEFFERY WHEELER, 56, to surrender. WHEELER, who lives at that address, refused to surrender peacefully.
Upon making entry into the residence, Troopers had to utilize a Taser electronic control weapon to subdue the hostile suspect in order to take him into custody without using lethal force and without significant injury to him or to them.
Suspect WHEELER was transported to a hospital for examination and then brought to the State Police Barracks in Athol where he was booked.
MSP Troopers obtained the arrest warrant on Thursday after conducting an investigation into threats made against a state judge. Intelligence suggested that WHEELER, whose license to carry a firearm had previously been revoked, may still have access to a firearm. Late yesterday afternoon MSP Troop A issued a Be On the Lookout alert for the suspect.
At approximately 7 p.m. Troopers from the Athol Barracks located the suspect’s vehicle outside his residence at 253 South St. in Athol. Troopers established a perimeter around the suspect’s house, which appeared to have an outdoor camera surveillance system installed.
Numerous attempts to make contact with WHEELER were unsuccessful, and when contact was made he indicated he would not comply with orders to surrender, leading to the eventual decision that MSP STOP Team had to make entry and effect the arrest to resolve the situation.
No further information, including the identity of the victim who was threatened, is being released.
