Marshfield: Local officials look to tighten penalty on suspects who flee from police

A bill sponsored by State Representative Jim Cantwell will correct what he calls a major lack of criminal justice penalties or suspects who try to evade police.

Cantwell was joined this week at the State House by Marshfield Police Captain Phil Tavares who provided testimony in front of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Tavares says there have been at least two incidents that he recalls here in Marshfield in which criminals fleeing from police have posed a danger to the community.

Cantwell is sponsoring the bill along with Captain Tavares, State Senator Bob Hedlund and Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz.

Tavares says the bill would establish a proposed penalty of a minimum of 2 1/2 year jail sentence and a $5,000 maximum fine.

The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security now must hold an executive session, in which it will decide whether or not to support the bill.

Cantwell says that decision could come by the end of this month, and then would go to the House for a vote. Cantwell says he is hopeful that action could be taken during in this legislative session.