Southbridge, MA - A dangerous encounter last Friday night led to a high-speed pursuit and subsequent weapon seizures, as reported by the Southbridge Police Department. The incident, which started with a male subject brandishing a gun at a female while driving erratically, took place on Village Drive around 10:16 pm. The Southbridge Police recounted that the victim narrowly avoided being struck by the vehicle, which, at one point, was driven onto a grassy area between apartment buildings before fleeing the scene.
Investigations enabled officers to quickly identify the driver as Nikko Letendre. Having had prior interactions with Letendre, the police were familiar with him and his vehicle, which allowed them to rapidly issue a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert. Nearly 10 minutes after the disturbance, law enforcement officials managed to locate and stop the vehicle on Hamilton Street. A search led to the discovery of a crossbow, suspected cocaine, and multiple loaded firearms with additional magazines and live ammunition, according to the Southbridge Police Department's social media post.
Four individuals, including Letendre, were apprehended and taken into custody. Charges against the 20-year-old Letendre range from weapon possession without a license and improper storage of firearms near a minor to reckless operation of a motor vehicle and class B cocaine possession. Luis M. Zayas, Dakota D. Seay, and Kristina M. Trifone face similar weapons-related charges. A juvenile female will also be charged at a later date with various weapons offenses and assault with a dangerous weapon. The bail was set at $25,000 for Zayas, Seay, and Trifone, while Letendre's bail was set at $5,000.
All the accused were held at police headquarters pending their arraignment in Dudley District Court, scheduled for Monday. The case underscores ongoing efforts by local law enforcement to tackle what seems to be an increasingly armed and potentially dangerous element within the community. As the investigation continues to unfold, further details regarding this incident are expected to be released by the authorities.
