WINCHENDON — On Friday, January 16, 2026, at approximately 10:35 a.m., Winchendon Police Officer Joseph Champney was on patrol, parked at Lickity Splitz on Main Street when he observed a black Dodge Challenger with Florida plates traveling northbound at a high rate of speed.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Joseph Champney and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“I estimated it to be traveling at least 80 mph in the posted 40 mph zone,” Officer Champney said.
Officer Champney said he pulled out without activating his blue lights and was able to catch up to the vehicle near Waterville Plaza.
“Once I was confident the camera recorded the registration, I initiated a motor vehicle stop around Tannery Hill,” Officer Champney said. “The vehicle pulled over and I made contact with a man whom I later identified as Rennie Rashawn Cyprian.”
According to police, Rennie Rashawn Cyprian, 22, is a resident of Woburn, MA.
Officer Champney reported that Cyprian did not have his license or registration in his possession and provided the name of 23-year-old Jacob Levrand.
“He informed me he was licensed out of the Commonwealth,” Officer Champney said. “As I returned to the cruiser to verify the information, he fled the stop under heavy acceleration.”
Detective Caleb Similia, who was nearby, pursued Cyprian’s vehicle up Tannery Hill before losing sight of it in the area.
“Detective Similia observed him pass at least one vehicle going up the hill over a double solid yellow line,” Officer Champney said. “We continued onto Spring Street and later terminated the pursuit on Gardner Road.”
Officer Champney said that, short time later, after a resident reported seeing a vehicle matching the description turn onto Front Street, he and Detective Similia responded to the area.
“We responded and initially he appeared gone on arrival,” Officer Champney said. “The Detective and I heard a revving engine behind 28 Front Street.”
Officer Champney reported that he drove down the street and observed Cyprian outside the Challenger, handling pieces of wood plank.
“He apparently had become stuck on ice and was attempting to gain traction with the wood,” Officer Champney said. “I boxed the car in, and he was taken into custody without incident.”
Officer Champney reported that after Cyprian was taken into custody, he was transported to the Winchendon Police Department for booking, while Detective Similia remained on scene for the tow and conducted an inventory of the vehicle.
Officer Champney said that Detective Similia located two open containers of alcohol and a blue pair of metal brass knuckles in the middle console of Cyprian’s vehicle.
“Rennie was read his Miranda [rights] during booking and agreed to talk,” Officer Champney said. “When asked about the weapon, he stated the knuckles were not his or something to that effect. He added the alcoholic container(s) were old, not from today.”
Officer Champney reported that Cyprian, whom he described as “polite and cooperative,” was placed in a holding cell at the station at approximately 12:00 p.m.
“It was later learned his vehicle was unregistered and his license was suspended,” Officer Champney said. “The Florida temporary registration was not active…and he reported he lived in Woburn for some time now.”
Rennie Rashawn Cyprian, 22, of Woburn, was charged with the following violations/offenses:
- Fail Stop for Police
- Negligent Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Operating Motor Vehicle with License Suspended
- Dangerous Weapon, Carry
- Speeding
- Marked Lanes Violation
- Uninsured Motor Vehicle
- Possess Open Container of Alcohol in Motor Vehicle
- Motor Vehicle Operator Refuse Identify Self
Cyprian’s bail was set at $1,000.
During Cyprian’s arraignment in Gardner District Court on Jan. 16, 2026, the Commonwealth filed a motion to revoke bail which Judge Mark Goldstein allowed.
On Feb. 4, 2026, Judge Goldstein reduced Cyprian’s bail to $500 following a motion to reconsider. Cyprian posted the $500 bail on Feb. 5, 2026.
On Feb. 9, 2026, Cyprian attended a pretrial hearing. His next court date is a discovery, compliance and election hearing scheduled for March 25, 2026.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in January, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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