"Drunken-driving arrest follows chase, Malden River rescue" by Alyssa Creamer, Globe Correspondent January 04, 2015
A Melrose man was arrested on a drunken-driving charge early Sunday after leading officers on a wild chase that left parked cars and police cruisers damaged and ended with the man’s rescue from a freezing river, Melrose police said.
“This was an extremely dangerous situation, in which a habitual offender with no valid driver’s license allegedly tried to run down police officers while he was under the influence of alcohol,” Melrose Police Chief Michael Lyle said in a statement.
The pursuit ended with John Kellum, 42, driving into the Malden River, getting out of his truck, and wading into the waist-deep, frigid waters, the statement said.
As responding personnel tried to rescue him, Kellum swam away and “taunted” them, the statement said....
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"No bail for Melrose man charged with 5th drunken driving offense; Defendant told officer: ‘This ain’t my first rodeo’" by Travis Andersen, Globe Staff January 05, 2015
A Melrose man arrested over the weekend on his fifth alleged drunken driving offense, after a wild chase in which he allegedly rammed a police cruiser and crashed into the frigid Malden River, was ordered held without bail at his arraignment Monday, officials said.
John M. Kellum Jr., 42, was arraigned in Malden District Court on several charges including operating under the influence of alcohol, fifth offense, and reckless operation of a motor vehicle, Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan’s office said. A not-guilty plea was entered on Kellum’s behalf and he is due back in court on Friday.
His lawyer could not be reached for comment.
According to Melrose police reports, officers were called to Kellum’s home on Spear Street at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, where they were met by his wife, who said her husband was “drunk and destroying their home.”
Police saw a Christmas tree on the front lawn, as well as a broken storm door, and heard tires screeching, prompting Kellum’s wife to shout, “That’s him; he’s leaving!” and “His license is revoked; he shouldn’t be driving,” one police report said.
But Kellum was driving his wife’s truck down Spear Street, where he allegedly struck two civilian vehicles and then rammed a cruiser, records show.
Melrose police pursued Kellum into Malden, where he eventually pulled into the parking lot of the Comcast building on Commercial Street, police said. He allegedly spun the truck 360 degrees in the lot before trying to ram a second cruiser, then drove into the river, according to a report.
Kellum swam away from the shore and rejected entreaties from Malden and Melrose police to return to land, telling officers at one point, “I’m not stupid,” a Melrose police report said.
How cold is the water?
Malden fire and rescue workers arrived, as did additional officers from Malden, Medford, and Everett, who suited up in cold-water gear. They reached Kellum on a raft and pulled him to shore by his collar, according to Melrose police.
He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he had an odd conversation with a Melrose officer.
According to an arrest report, after the officer handcuffed Kellum to his hospital bed, he looked up at the officer with “extremely red, bloodshot, and glassy” eyes and said “Thank you,” and “You have a nice hat.”
Asked if he was willing to discuss the case, Kellum told the officer, “I’m not saying [expletive]” and “This ain’t my first rodeo,” the report said.
Kellum has an eight-page record of infractions dating back to 1990, including revocations for prior drunken driving incidents, and he has three overlapping suspensions of his license, according to the state Registry of Motor Vehicles.
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NEXT DAY UPDATE:
"State Police this week rescued a shoplifting suspect from the Quinebaug River in Lisbon and charged her with larceny. The Bulletin reported that State Police said they received a call at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday about a shoplifter at Walmart at Lisbon Landing. State Police said Melissa Latronica allegedly tried to escape by running along the top of an embankment. She fell into the river and was submerged when troopers pulled her out. She was treated at the scene and taken to the William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich. Latronica, 30, of Cromwell, was released on a $1,000 bond."
Maybe there is something in the water.
