New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
On Friday, June 26, at 1:35 p.m. Wareham Police Officers Aaron Pacheco and Christopher Corner were dispatched to County Road Recycling on County Road for the report of a male trespasser. Upon arrival, they searched the area, however were unable to locate him.
While speaking with the complainants the officers heard three consecutive gunshots and realized that they were all being fired upon. The officers immediately headed in the direction of the gunshots and observed a male on Reed Road carrying a rifle.
Officer Pacheco stepped from his cruiser and ordered the male to put the rifle on the ground, but he refused. Officer Pacheco then drew his firearm, commanding the man to put the rifle down. Again the man refused and began walking away toward a camper with the rifle in hand.
Officer Pacheco moved toward the male with his firearm pointed at him, backed up by Officer Corner. Finally, the male put the weapon down just inside the open door of the camper. The officers placed the man in custody and secured the weapon. After a brief search of the area, the officers located a 500 round box of .22 caliber rifle ammunition
Gregory W. Schroth (40), of 8 Reed Road West Wareham, was arrested and charged with 4 counts of assault with intent to murder, possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and discharging a firearm within 500’ of a dwelling. He is being held at Wareham Police Headquarters on $50,000 bail, pending arraignment with the Wareham District Court on Monday. There were no injuries in this incident.
Chief John Walcek said, “We had a very serious situation where two civilians and two police officers were in grave danger. The positive outcome of this incident is the result of a disciplined and professional response by two of Wareham’s finest officers.” He added, “Aaron and Chris did an outstanding job and I am very proud of them.”
In a separate matter earlier this week the Wareham Police Department took a call from a Boston area police department. They had received information about a male who was staying in Wareham, making suicidal and homicidal statements, requesting that the Wareham Police check on his wellbeing.
Sergeant Daniel Henderson contacted the male by phone, at which time the male indicated he would shoot the sergeant in the face if confronted. Sgt. Henderson accompanied by Officers Justin Silveira and Scott Cowan responded to the location where the male was staying and took him into custody after a brief struggle. The male was brought to Tobey Hospital for an evaluation and no weapons were located.
