State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Team Arrests Suspect On Nantucket

A suspect was arrested Thursday morning on Nantucket by the Massachusetts State Police's Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section.

Authorities have not yet identified the suspect, who was taken into custody on outstanding warrants, according to Trooper Brandon Doherty.

"That person was returned to the mainland and turned over to the custody of Brockton PD," Doherty stated in an email to the Current. "I would refer you to BPD for anything further."

A message seeking information from the Brockton Police Department was not yet received a response. 

The presence of the State Troopers from off-island sparked a slight panic among the island's immigrant community on Thursday, as it apparently started a rumor that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were conducting an operation on Nantucket. The Current received numerous messages asking about an alleged ICE raid on the island.

Nantucket Police Chief Jody Kasper quelled those rumors Thursday afternoon, stating "We have no knowledge of members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement being on-island today."

The Nantucket Police Department provided some assistance to the State Police during the warrant arrest. Here's how Kasper described it:

"Members of the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Violent Fugitive Apprehension Unit notified us this morning that they would be on-island to execute an arrest warrant for a specific individual. Members of the Nantucket Police Department (NPD) provided transportation assistance to MSP personnel; however, NPD personnel did not execute the warrant or transport the arrested individual. The suspect was not arrested or booked by the Nantucket Police Department. Any information regarding the individual, the arrest, or the related charges should be obtained directly from the Massachusetts State Police."

This story will be updated as we gather more information.