Notes from the overnight: “A leopard can’t change his spots…”

ABOVE: Meet the real hero of the night: this oversized stuffed leopard, fiercely guarding a clump of shrubbery as officers responded to a West Yarmouth duplex last evening. The call came in about a neighbor allegedly trying to bust into the other side despite an active harassment prevention order. Everyone was already safely in their own units when officers arrived. No actual break-in, no more actual drama—just this plush predator standing watch while one resident gets summoned into court to answer for his alleged harassment prevention order violation. Spots? Still unchanged.   42-Year-Old Picks Wrong Time to Flee Cops on Bike — Backup Swarm Ends Chase in Minutes ABOVE: Barnstable police officers detain a 42-year-old suspect near the wooded path exit onto Crooked Pond Road after a brief foot pursuit. The man had refused to stop for a patrolman near the Barnstable Community Innovation School on Bearses Way around 10 p.m., then pedaled frantically across the rear playing fields — only to discover multiple additional officers already waiting to cut off his escape. He faces summonses for bicycle violations and trespassing. HN Reminder: The initial details contained in the above photo description are based on radio transmissions and information from police sources. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. VW SUV Flees Barnstable Cops — Pursuit Scrapped at 55+ MPH Before Crossing Into Sandwich Barnstable Police are investigating a Tuesday evening pursuit that began when a Volkswagen SUV refused to stop for officers on Route 132 near Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable. The driver took off, turning the attempted traffic stop into a short chase that spilled onto Route 6A. With two male occupants inside, the SUV accelerated until speeds topped 55 mph, prompting officers to terminate the pursuit for safety reasons. Officers were able to note the vehicle’s license plate number. The vehicle was last seen crossing into the Town of Sandwich on Route 6A, possibly heading toward the Sagamore Bridge. A Sandwich patrolman radioed that he may have spotted the VW, noted its partial license plate number, but wisely chose not to turn around and risk trying to catch up along narrow Route 6A. Roughly an hour later, state troopers located the Volkswagen at an address on Plymouth Avenue in Wareham. Sandwich officers separately spoke with the registered owner at another local address; she reportedly was not behind the wheel during the incident. Troopers interviewed at least one person of interest at the Plymouth Avenue location. A police source told Hyannis News that investigators already have a likely suspect — and wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out to be someone with a recent history of fleeing law enforcement that made Hyannis News headlines. [Stay tuned!] The investigation remains very active and ongoing. No arrests have been announced.       Car Smashes Into Wareham Mobile Home — Driver Hospitalized, Trailer Uninhabitable ABOVE: A vehicle sits lodged deep inside a heavily damaged mobile home on Pine View Terrace in Wareham after the driver lost control and crashed directly into the residence Wednesday morning. According to online reports, two homeowners were inside at the time of the impact but escaped unharmed. The driver was pulled from the wreckage and taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; the trailer has been declared uninhabitable. Hyannis News has reached out to Wareham Police for additional details… [Wareham PD photos/ HN edits] P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is brought to you by TRIO… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT! HEADPHONES ABSOLUTELY OBLIGATORY!]