TOWNSEND — On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at approximately 9:18 p.m., Townsend police went to a Kaneohe Court residence to arrest 40-year-old Deanna Marie Shattuck on two outstanding warrants.
According to a Townsend Police Department statement of facts for the incident, one warrant was issued by Leominster District Court and the other by Ayer District Court.
Police said they had reason to believe Shattuck was inside the residence with her 37-year-old boyfriend, Matthew Francis, who had nine active warrants.
When officers arrived on scene, they repeatedly announced their presence, but Shattuck and Francis allegedly refused to comply with their commands and barricaded themselves inside the residence, the Townsend Police Department reported.
An interior drone operated by Pepperell police was sent through an unlocked door at the rear of the residence. The drone became disabled in the basement.
Shattuck later allegedly told police that she damaged the drone after it became disabled and put pieces of it in different areas of the basement.
According to Townsend police, a full Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) SWAT response was initiated due to reasonable suspicion that Francis may have armed himself with a knife in the kitchen.
After several hours of unsuccessful attempts to de-escalate the situation, the NEMLEC SWAT officers breached the front door and entered the residence. Officers also deployed OC spray (i.e., oleoresin capsicum spray or pepper spray) throughout the house.
Police said Francis attempted to escape through a basement window but was apprehended by SWAT officers stationed along the perimeter.
Matthew S. Francis, 37, of Westminster, MA, was arrested and charged with the following:
- Resist Arrest
- Warrant Arrest (nine counts)
The Townsend Police Department said that Shattuck continued to resist arrest by hiding in the basement before SWAT officers ultimately took her into custody.
Lunenburg Fire Department paramedics evaluated Shattuck at the scene, but she declined transportation to the hospital, and was subsequently taken to the Townsend Police Department for booking. Shattuck’s bail was denied by Bail Commissioner Matt Day.
Shattuck was transported to Ayer District Court on July 8, 2026, where she was arraigned on the following charges:
- Resist Arrest
- Vandalism
- Warrant Arrest (two counts)
Following her arraignment, Shattuck was released on personal recognizance. A default warrant was then issued for her arrest when she didn’t appear for a pretrial hearing scheduled for July 31, 2026.
(Please note: Francis’ bail and subsequent court date information was not contained in the public records request News Link Live obtained for the incident.)
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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