The Patriot Ledger has a story about Daniel Rebello. I read it with interest and followed it up by going to other newspapers. What piqued my interest was the Ledger stating: “He’ll be back in Quincy court Nov. 21, and he told Coven that he’ll represent himself. “I have that right,” Rebello said.” When I read that I figured this guy is someone who has little respect for the police or the law.
I dug a little further to try to find out more about him. I found this in the Boston Globe:
“According to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Rebello has amassed a 15-page driving history since 2000, which includes 11 speeding tickets in nearly every corner of Massachusetts and multiple suspensions and warrants.
His license was revoked indefinitely by the RMV this July as an immediate threat to public safety following a high speed chase in Dartmouth that ended with State Police citing him for speeding in a construction zone.
According to the RMV, Rebello has paid fines and fees on eight separate occasions to regain his license following multiple traffic violations. Before his arrest today, Rebello has been ticketed for speeding in Dartmouth, New Bedford, Lowell, Somerset (twice), Northampton, Holyoke, Fall River, Swansea and Westport.”
It was also reported that he had been chased by the state police for several weeks as they tried to stop him running at 90 – 100 mph over Route 24, 93 and 95. To top it off, he is alleged to have run his motorcycle right at a state trooper which is an assault with a dangerous weapon and then it is reported that “The State Police said on Monday Rebello called their headquarters in Framingham and boasted that he had gotten away from them once again.”
This is an interesting case to watch. I hope the media stays on top of it. Rubello has shown his contempt for the motor vehicle laws by continuing to operate after his license has been revoked. I say that because if the facts are true then this man is a menace to all of us who drive over these roads.
Kudos to the Massachusetts State, the Arlington and Randolph Police for following up on this matter and apprehending this man. Especially to those who came up with the idea to seek the public assistance which proved crucial in arresting him.
Had this happened when I was prosecuting, I would have made a point to induct Mr. Rebello into a program I set up where I’d look for people who were in and out of district court and seemed to have little respect for what happened at that level. When I found people like Mr. Rebello I’d bring the matter to a grand jury and indict him. He’d then be in superior court facing charges that could put him in prison with the big boys and not in the house of corrections.
He is charged with a chapter 265, section 15B(b) offense which states: “Whoever, by means of a dangerous weapon, commits an assault upon another shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years.”
What I have read about him shows he has a bad attitude, engages in dangerous actions that may result in highly serious injuries to other, and has little regard for the public or our law enforcement officers. I would have done every thing in my power to get him sent to five years in prison. I probably would not have succeeded because he has nothing other than motor vehicle offenses on his record. But having a person sit in superior court and face just that possibility sends a message to the person that there can be some teeth in the law and there are places where you just don’t want to be incarcerated. A 29 year old guys who act like Rebello did does not belong in the house of corrections but in prison. Let him enjoy the company of the real bad dudes if he wants to act like one.
I’ve always believed that guys that flee from the police in motor vehicles should get extra special attention. There have been too many lives of innocent people lost during those chases. The police now recognize the dangers of the chase and often will not pursue individuals like Rebello, as we saw happening with the Arlington police, because of that knowledge. But the message should go out that once caught, the consequences will be dire.
It’d also be nice is special legislation addressed this type of event making the running of a red light to escape from the police a felony. If the reports are correct Rebello apparently thought he was having fun by running from the state police and then taunting them. It’s time to let those who risk their lives in stopping him get a little pay back.
Hello Matt,
The circus is coming back to town.. The sentencing hearing is supposed to be Wednesday, when the families can justifiably, and rightfully call him the spineless, yellow cur (as my grandfather used to say) that he was, and still is. He has denied, and justified to the end.
Whitey will speak Thursday. He’s been furiously writing old-school Palmer-method cursive penmanship on yellow legal pads, revising his speech for months…………. He has one last chance to publicly (not later, when a book comes out) apologize to the innocent victim’s families. Let’s see if he takes it.
Tip of the hat to all USMC , Buttonwood, Ryan park, Vaughn’s veterans.
Rather:
An apt description: “spineless, yellow cur.” It’s like “spineless running dog” a favorite of Mao’s cadres. You’ll note I touched on the subject today. What makes you think Whitey will speak? Is it because it is his last chance or is it his way to say good bye to Massachusetts.
Apologize? Whitey thinks everything he did is justified so why would he apologize. He won’t go near that, he’ll just complain that life is unfair. So the supposed mighty has fallen; what is a gangster without his guns.
Thanks for the tip of the hat. Remember Howie Winter and Pat Nee fit that category. I missed the Marine Corps dinner in Boston this year. It was held on November 8th. The wrong day.
Matt et al.,
What I appreciate most about this post is the reminder that we are receiving protection. We certainly support a huge law enforcement structure in this country. Huge.
Thanks to the officers that finally got this guy. His 15 page driving history is amazing. His danger to the public is remarkable. His years of abuse of the people forced to drive with him on the same roadways is depressing.
But they got him.
Thanks.
Lol – That’s definitely a big Irish family description of degrees of separation. Do you know whether or not Bobo Connolly is related to the former FBI Agent John Connolly?
Jan:
I don’t know for sure but given the number of Connolly families I’d guess not since I’ve never heard anyone suggest it.
Matt, Jan: the five most common Irish names in America (not the same five as in Ireland) are Murphy, Kelly, O’Brien, Connolly and Walsh. I read that in some authentic document twenty years ago. I’ve told it to a thousand people. 2. I don’t think that John and Bobo are related.
Jan , no relation.
William:
The Connolly’s in my family are related to Kelly’s and Walsh’s along with other common names as McDonough and O’Malley. These are all Galway tribes. Of course the kings from Ireland were the O’Neils.
This Rebello character is a strange guy. I was wondering, Matt, I know you mentioned that you are not related to the former FBI Agent John Connolly but are you related to the former Boston Police officer Bobo Connolly who’s from south Boston also.
Jan:
Being from Boston you must know Connollys are ubiquitous. I’m not related to any of the people who are involved in these matters nor to the John Connolly who is running for major. The closest I come to having a relative connected to the matters is my cousin Barbara married Bobby Lundbohm who was the brother of Joe Lundbohm a Boston detective who was the uncle of Steven Rakes’s wife. The Lundbohms were good people and lived three houses away from me growing up.
Matt, standing at M-Street Beach, next to L-St. Gym, one hot sunny day, this summer of 2013, I was talking with a few friends I’ve known for twenty-thirty years at the gym, one was the professional boxer Tommy Atardo. Two other guys, strong athletic guys I took for boxers, approached and started talking with us. Tommy knew them as friends; I’d seen them around. At one point, while discussing a lot of stuff, the beach, the view, sports, wild mutual friends we grew up and some crazy situations life threw at us, general gab, one of the two asked me, “Which Connollys are you?” I said, “The Marine Corps Connollys; my two older brothers were Marine Corps Officers and I was in the Public Health Corps, Department of Navy, dealing with Narcotics, health-wise.” He looked at me a bit puzzled by the response, still trying to place me. I mentioned Old Harbor. He still looked questioningly. I then pointed to the bust of Billy Rogers and said, “He’s my first cousin, and his father, Bill, was my godfather.” He got the picture. We ended up figuring out that all five of us shooting the breeze on the beach were somehow related, second or third cousins, once removed. I liked that answer: “The Marine Corps Connollys.” From Grandmother Catherine Laura Rogers came four Marine Corps Officers, you, Jim, Jimmy Ambrose and his son Jimmy, and one USPHS officer: yours truly. Semper Fi.