After a manhunt that spanned several Massachusetts communities, a suspect believed to be armed and dangerous was captured in Waltham early Monday morning. Joshua Hinds, a 45-year-old resident of Stow, was apprehended after a high alert was issued by local police departments. Hinds was last spotted in Needham on Sunday evening and was considered a threat due to his possession of multiple firearms and exhibiting distressful behavior, as reported by CBS News Boston.
According to the alert sent out by the police, Hinds had allegedly brandished a firearm at an acquaintance, making threats to harm both himself and others. Stow Police Chief Michael Sallese and Needham Police Chief John Schlittler coordinated efforts in the search, which also included the Harvard, Boxborough, and Bolton police departments along with state police. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, authorities were urging the public not to approach Hinds if seen but to call 911 instead. This advice comes from WCVB.
The culmination of the search led to Hinds's capture in Waltham, although little about the circumstances of the arrest has been released. Details from a joint statement by the local police chiefs were scant on how Hinds was detained and whether any weapons were recovered at the time of his arrest.
Throughout the search, which spanned overnight into the early hours of the following morning, residents were on edge with a "large law enforcement presence in Stow" as described by a report from Boston 25 News. The same report gave a description of Hinds, who is said to have thinning blonde hair and brown eyes and was last seen driving a gray 2015 Toyota Tacoma with the Massachusetts registration 66AT38.
With the arrest of Joshua Hinds, the communities involved find momentary relief from the tension brought upon by the search and the fear of a potentially violent confrontation. Nonetheless, as police continue their investigation, the public remains watchful, digesting the narrative of a man on the brink and the swift response of their protectors.
