Man arrested for evading drug charges at Mansfield hotel held without bail pending dangerousness hearing – Boston News, Weather, Sports

NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASS. (WHDH) – A man arrested in North Attleboro for allegedly fleeing drug raids at a Mansfield hotel was taken into custody Friday and denied bail pending a dangerousness hearing.

According to police, Kevin Burke is a drug dealer who injured police officers on two separate occasions, including Thursday, when they tried to arrest him on warrants.

Officers eventually managed to arrest Burke in the backyard of a home on Cottage Street in North Attleboro. He now faces 30 criminal charges in six different cases.

Neighbors were stunned when police searched the area with dogs.

“It was a real surprise. I couldn't believe it,” said Frank Hewitt, who lives near where Burke was arrested.

“It's a little nerve-wracking. I have three small children and I just want to protect them,” said neighbor Arianna Servant.

Police said they discovered Burke was staying at the Red Roof Inn hotel in Mansfield and dealing drugs there. Four North Attleboro officers approached Burke in his black BMW and smashed his driver's window when he refused to roll it down and talk to them.

A prosecutor said a lieutenant tried to turn off the car's engine when Burke allegedly accelerated.

“One officer is trapped in the vehicle – half of his body is inside the vehicle, the other half is outside, while Mr. Burke accelerates at a high rate of speed and drives toward the exit,” said District Attorney Pat Driscoll.

Prosecutors said Burke also hit the accelerator while the car was in reverse. The lieutenant was later thrown from the BMW and suffered abrasions and a serious ankle injury, prosecutors said.

An officer fired a single shot at Burke. Police said he suffered a minor injury to his right bicep and a small amount of blood was found in his BMW, which police found parked outside a martial arts shop in North Attleboro.

“My client is addicted and is currently going through withdrawal symptoms, so I need to do further research,” said defense attorney Amit Singh.

Police said they searched Burke at the hospital where he was being treated for the minor gunshot wound to his arm and found baggies of white powder believed to be crack cocaine in his boxer shorts.

“My husband grew up in this area and I don’t think anything like this has ever happened,” Servant said.

Burke was remanded in custody for a week pending a dangerousness hearing next Friday. He is also wanted in Rhode Island for burglary.

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