GROTON — At about 12:17 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, Groton Police Officers Peter Violette, Jeffrey Yung, Peter Breslin, and Sergeant Derrick Gemos received a broadcast from Patriot Dispatch (the regional 911 communications center serving Groton, Townsend, Pepperell and Dunstable), reporting that a vehicle had just been stolen from a Hannaford supermarket in Townsend and was traveling on Route 119 toward Pepperell.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Peter Violette and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
Dispatch gave police the vehicle’s license plate number and description, a 2016 blue Toyota RAV4.
“Dispatch advised us the vehicle was being followed by a Townsend police officer, and the vehicle was refusing to stop,” Officer Violette said. “We proceeded to the westerly area of town to assist.”
Officer Violette stated that he was monitoring Pepperell police’s radio communications on the scanner when officers there reported that the vehicle they were attempting to stop was traveling down Main Street (Route 113) and onto Groton Road.
“Dispatch advised us that the vehicle was now heading on Groton Road towards Longley Road in Groton,” Officer Violette said. “Dispatch advised us, Pepperell had the vehicle stopped just over the town line into Groton.”
Officer Violette stated that he drove toward the location where Pepperell police had initiated the traffic stop.
“I heard over the radio, Pepperell indicated the vehicle had stopped and now had driven around their cruisers and was proceeding on Longley Road towards Groton,” Officer Violette said. “Officer Young and I pulled over and off the road in the area of 101 Longley. Officer Young and I exited our cruisers, and I proceeded to get the ‘stop sticks’ out to deploy them. I told Officer Young to stop traffic, while I proceeded to set up the stop sticks in position.”
About two minutes later, Officer Violette stated that he saw the Toyota RAV4 traveling toward his location at approximately 30 mph.
“I deployed the stop sticks, and they punctured the Toyota’s tires as it passed by me,” Officer Violette said. “I immediately removed the stop sticks from the road, and the Pepperell and Townsend officers followed behind the Toyota.”
After placing the stop sticks back in his cruiser, Officer Violette said he heard over the radio that the vehicle had turned onto Hollis Street and was heading toward Main Street.
“Officer Breslin passed by me, which [is when] I turned around, and we proceeded towards the Hollis and Main street area,” Officer Violette said. “While en route, it was broadcast over the radio that police units had the vehicle stopped by Hollis and School street.”
As Officers Breslin and Violette approached the scene, a broadcast reported that the Toyota RAV4 had maneuvered around the cruisers that had stopped it and was attempting to flee.
Officer Violette stated that he observed the Toyota drive onto the curb with four flat tires, continue onto the lawn of Badger Funeral Home, and then flee onto School Street.
“Officers were getting back into their cruisers, as the Toyota drove around and away from them,” Officer Violette said. “I proceeded to drive up onto the curbing and onto the lawn, and around the stopped cruisers.”
Officer Violette stated that Officer Breslin drove around the stopped cruisers and ahead of the Toyota onto School Street. He said Officer Breslin stopped in front of the vehicle, at which point the Toyota struck the rear of his cruiser.
“I proceeded to drive up behind the stopped Toyota, and stop approximately four inches from its rear bumper,” Officer Violette said. “I observed the rear backup lights come on, and the Toyota proceeded to slowly back up in an attempt to leave. Due to the immediate threat that the operator may impose to the Main Street area in downtown Groton. I put my cruiser in drive, and made contact with the Toyota, and slowly pushed it forward with my cruiser. As I was pushing the Toyota, the operator had his foot on the accelerator, and was spinning his wheels in reverse attempting to flee.”
Officer Violette stated that he pushed the Toyota into the rear of Officer Breslin’s cruiser, pinning it between his cruiser and Officer Breslin’s. He said the Toyota continued spinning its wheels before suddenly coming to a stop.
“Officer Breslin and I exited our cruisers, with our firearms drawn, yelling out to the operator to exit the vehicle,” Officer Violette said. “Pepperell and Townsend Officers also approached the Toyota with their firearms and tasers drawn.”
Officer Violette stated that officers repeatedly ordered the driver to comply, but he refused to do so.
“I then transitioned to my taser, with repeated commands to exit the vehicle. I then holstered my taser, and yelled out to the other Officers on scene, that I was going to approach the operator and open the door. I approached the operator, and gave commands to exit the vehicle. The operator refused, and I attempted the door to open it, but the door was locked. I made eye contact with the operator, and commanded him to exit the vehicle. The operator stated, ‘Go f*ck yourself, I’m not going to open the window!'”
Officer Violette stated that Officer Christopher Lowe of the Townsend Police Department was behind him, and he informed Lowe that the driver was not going to open the window.
“The operator kept yelling he wasn’t going to open the window. Officer Lowe took his baton, and broke the drivers door window open, and removed the glass,” Officer Violette said.
Officer Violette stated that Officer Lowe was able to open the driver’s door, at which point both officers grabbed the driver’s left arm and wrist as they attempted to place him under arrest.
“The operator continued resisting to be removed from the vehicle,” Officer Violette said. “With the assistance of two other officers, the operator was removed from the vehicle, placed onto the ground, and handcuffed without further incident.”
“The operator was ID’d to be Kevin Kelleher of Pepperell, Mass.,” Officer Violette said.
According to police, Kevin Barry Kelleher Jr., 32, is a resident of Plainfield Road in Pepperell, MA.
Kelleher sustained a laceration above his right eye during the incident. First aid was administered to Kelleher by officers on scene and Groton EMS, but he was subsequently transported to Emerson Hospital by Groton EMS for further evaluation and treatment.
Kevin Barry Kelleher was arrested and charged with the following violations/offenses:
- Fail to Stop for Police
- Marked Lanes Violation
- Fail to Stop/Yield
- Assault with Dangerous Weapon
- Resist Arrest
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in October, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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