Police arrest man at Orange apartment complex after foot chase; stolen gun and narcotics recovered

ORANGE — On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force and the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit carried out street-level enforcement in Orange, concentrating on the King Pine Apartments located at 419 East River Street.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Detective Travis Rushford do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

“At approximately 5:18 p.m., Task Force Officers Joshua Harris and Brandon Bryant observed an individual, later identified as Emanuel Robideau, walking toward a maroon Toyota RAV4 bearing Massachusetts assigned registration [number redacted],” Detective Travis Rushford said.

According to police, Emanuel James Robideau, 35, is homeless in Orange, MA. Court documents indicate he’s married.

“Robideau was then observed in the driver’s seat of the Toyota with a black backpack,” Det. Rushford said. “He then left the parking lot, drove down East River Street, and then back into the apartment complex, ultimately driving to the King James Apartments, which is connected to King Pine Apartments.”

Detective Lieutenant Steven Hean and Lieutenant Gregory Denys then observed Robideau park near Building Number 5.

“I knew that recently, Robideau did not have a valid Massachusetts operator’s license. This was later confirmed after observing him operating the Toyota,” Det. Rushford said. “A short time later, Sgt. Michael O’Brien, TFO Vincenzo Tirone, and I obtained a stationary position of surveillance near Building 5 and eventually saw Robideau walk away from the area of the Toyota and enter Building 5.”

Just before 6:00 p.m., the officers observed Robideau exiting Building Number 5 and walk toward the Toyota. About 15 minutes later, the officers watched as Robideau drove the Toyota out of the parking lot, where he crossed into the same parking lot that Detective Rushford was in and parked just a few spaces over.

“Robideau appeared to observe me sitting inside Sgt. O’Brien’s unmarked state police cruiser and began to back out of the parking lot, now driving toward King Pine,” Det. Rushford said. “Based on our observations, investigators attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop. It should be noted that King Pine and King James are both public ways, where tenants are allowed to have visitors at all hours of the day and night.”

Detective Rushford reported that Detective Lieutenant Hean activated his emergency blue lights as Robideau drove toward him, and Robideau steered onto the grass to go around Hean’s vehicle.

“Robideau then sped through the complex at a high rate of speed having no regard for multiple pedestrians that were walking around the complex, as well as any potential vehicle traffic,” Det. Rushford said. “At one point, a pedestrian threw his arms up in the air as Robideau sped past him. Robideau continued through the parking lot eventually parking next to Building 12 where he bailed out of the Toyota and began to run on foot.”

Detective Rushford stated that he, Sgt. O’Brien, and TFO Tirone pursued Robideau on foot while identifying themselves as police and ordering him to stop.

“We were all wearing our issued body armor with police markings that were clearly visible. Robideau ran around the back of Building 12, where we lost sight of him for just a few seconds,” Det. Rushford said. “As we rounded the corner, I observed Robideau began to slow down near the main entrance of Building 12, and I was able to grab onto him.”

Sergeant O’Brien and Detective Rushford then brought Robideau to the ground, where Detective Rushford secured him in handcuffs.

“I advised him that he did not have a license, which he said he knew. I then advised him that he was under arrest,” Detective Rushford said. “He was then sat up on his butt, eventually escorted to a bicycle rack for him to lean on. I then noticed a fresh contusion next to his left eyebrow and asked our dispatch to have Orange Fire/EMS respond to the Orange Police Department.”

Officer Sydney Richardson then arrived and transported Robideau to the Orange Police Department for booking.

“Robideau was later transported to the Athol Hospital by Orange Fire/EMS and Officer Benjamin Kovacevic for medical attention. Robideau was later released and received two stiches,” Det. Rushford said. Adding, “TFOs then walked the path of the foot pursuit and located a soft black pouch with a Smith and Wesson firearm logo on the front of it, that was zipped shut. TFO Harris opened the black pouch which yielded a .380 Smith and Wesson firearm and two magazines, with no ammunition. Meanwhile, other TFOs at the Toyota observed drug paraphernalia in plain view.”

The owner of the vehicle arrived on scene and told the officers that the only thing that belonged to her in the vehicle was a child’s car seat, and then gave police consent to search the vehicle.

“A search of the vehicle yielded a black backpack, same as TFO Harris and Bryant observed Robideau first entered the vehicle with, and a small rubber container that contained suspected crack cocaine,” Det. Rushford said. “A later search of the backpack yielded personal belongings, as well as approximately four  suspected Clonazepam prescription pills contained within a plastic baggie.”

Detective Rushford said a query of Robideau showed that he did not possess a License to Carry in Massachusetts.

“A query of the firearm’s serial number showed that the firearm was owned by Paul [last name redacted] from Athol,” Det. Rushford said. “Sgt. O’Brien and TFO Tirone went to [Paul’s] residence to speak with him about the firearm. [Paul] stated that he gave all of his firearms to his brother, Kevin [last name redacted]. Sgt. O’Brien and TFO Tirone then went to [Kevin’s] residence and spoke to him about the firearm. [Kevin] stated that the firearm was locked in the trunk of his vehicle in the garage, with three other firearms in the trunk. He did not know that the firearm was stolen and stated that he recently had a female staying at his residence while he was in another state. This interview was recorded on Sgt. O’Brien’s body worn camera.”

Emanuel Robideau was charged with the following:

• Possess Class B Drug (crack cocaine)
• Possess Class C Drug (Clonazepam)
• Carry Firearm without License
• Receive Stolen Property

Robideau was issued a Massachusetts Uniform Citation for the following:

• Unlicensed Operation of Motor Vehicle
• Failure to Stop for Police
• Speeding
• Operating to Endanger

“Bail Commissioner Weiss was contacted and set bail at $10,000.00,” Det. Rushford said. “Robideau was unable to come up with bail and was later transported to the Franklin County House of Corrections by Officer [Kyle] Johnson for holding.”

Robideau’s arraignment was scheduled for July 25, 2025 in Orange District Court.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in July, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.

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