Dartmouth Capri Motel Standoff Ends Peacefully

DARTMOUTH (WBSM) — Dartmouth Police report that a three-and-a-half-hour standoff at the Capri Motel Saturday night came to a peaceful end.

According to police, officers responded on Saturday, September 30 at about 9:30 p.m. to the motel in an attempt to arrest Willie Vinnie, 45, of Fall River. Vinnie was wanted for an outstanding probation warrant.

Police attempted to take him into custody, but Vinnie barricaded himself inside his room, police said.

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When officers could not get him to leave his room, negotiators and SWAT team members from the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council were requested. Negotiations did not work, so SWAT team members were sent into the room.

They were able to take Vinnie into custody, and he was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. Police said he remains there under evaluation.

He also now faces a charge of resisting arrest in addition to the charges in the original warrant.

Willie also has a criminal history, including previous arrests for allegedly robbing someone at knifepoint as well as for larceny and forgery.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of this incident, as none of the involved officers were injured as a result of this man’s reckless and dangerous actions,” Police Chief Brian P. Levesque said.