TOWNSEND — SWAT officers were called to assist in arresting a Westminster man and his girlfriend, who were wanted on a combined 11 warrants, after an hourslong standoff in which the pair allegedly barricaded themselves inside a home and refused repeated orders to surrender.
The Townsend Police identified the suspects during the incident, which began around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday and stretched into the early morning hours Wednesday, as Matthew Francis, 37, of Westminster, who was wanted on nine warrants for larceny, receiving stolen property and shoplifting, and his girlfriend, Deanna Shattuck, 40, of Townsend, who had two warrants for receiving stolen property and drug possession.
Police said they requested the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT team after developing concern that Francis may have armed himself with a kitchen knife inside the home at 2 Kaneohe Court — listed in court records as Shattuck’s residence — and the tactical team later used pepper spray when negotiations failed.
“I want to thank everyone who was involved in this incident for their professionalism, patience and teamwork,” Townsend Police Chief James Sartell said in a press release announcing the arrests. “NEMLEC SWAT provides us with highly trained, readily available backup when we face complex and potentially dangerous calls, and their support in this incident was invaluable.”
Townsend police officers were initially joined at the scene by the Pepperell and Groton police departments as they attempted to locate the couple inside the home. The Pepperell Police deployed a drone into the residence to help find Francis and Shattuck, but the device became disabled in the basement.
According to a Townsend Police incident report, Shattuck later admitted to damaging the drone after it had been disabled and “put pieces of it in different areas of the basement.”
The incident report states that a full NEMLEC SWAT callout was initiated due to reasonable suspicion that Francis had armed himself with a knife. After “multiple hours of attempted de-escalation,” SWAT breached the front door and deployed pepper spray throughout the home.
Francis attempted to flee through a basement window but was apprehended by SWAT, which had set up a perimeter around the residence.
According to police, Shattuck continued to resist by hiding in the basement before ultimately being taken into custody.
Francis was transported to UMass Memorial Health Alliance in Leominster for evaluation, while Shattuck was evaluated at the scene and declined transport.
Along with the outstanding warrants, Francis was charged with resisting arrest, and Shattuck was charged with resisting arrest and vandalism.
According to the Ayer District Court Clerk’s Office, both were arraigned on Wednesday and held on $1,000 cash bail. They are scheduled to return to court on Aug. 7.
Court records show Francis’ nine warrants were issued out of Ayer, Marlboro, Leominster and Clinton district courts, while Shattuck’s two warrants originated from Ayer and Leominster district courts.
Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
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