Police arrest Level 3 sex offender accused of following girl in Marshfield
MARSHFIELD - Police have arrested a Level 3 sex offender who failed to register and allegedly followed a 17-year-old girl who was out jogging.
Marshfield police say on Tuesday evening, 53-year-old Edmund David Lachance offered a ride to a 17-year-old girl out jogging in the Humarock area, but when she refused and turned around, police say he then followed her until she ran to a friend's house.
Lachance, who was previously convicted of several charges including rape and kidnapping, was arrested Thursday in Hingham.
Police say Lachance is Level 3 sex offender which is the highest and most serious level.
"History of predatory nature"
"It's important because he has a history of predatory nature and we want to make sure considering the fact that he has not registered, we want to make sure we get him off the street and arrest him on that warrant," Marshfield police Officer Camden Bruno said Wednesday night.
After the incident in Marshfield, police say they tracked down Lachance and his black Lincoln Zephyr to a house on Hawthorne Street in Scituate where he was staying. He's listed on the sex offender registry as homeless.
However, investigators say they didn't have enough to arrest him at the time, and he got away. Detectives later figured out Lachance failed to register as a Level 3 sex offender when he moved, like he's supposed to by law.
Lachance turned himself in at Hingham District Court on Thursday. He is being held on $250,000 bail.
Neighborhood on edge
Residents say the Humarock area is popular for walking and jogging, but now they feel uneasy.
"Kinda scary thinking about it now. A lot of kids out here go to the beach a lot and there's a lot of young people, especially at night," said Pembroke resident Bryce Vega.
"It's pretty alarming. That doesn't really happen around here, and that's why I think it's more shocking," Pembroke resident Lisa Quevillon said.
The community is staying alert and keeping an eye out for each other.
"I'm glad people are spreading the word, and the information is getting out there. So hopefully, he'll be caught soon," Marshfield resident Taylor Beckett said.
Police urge vigilance
As frightening as the encounter was, police remind others to stay alert and vigilant in their surroundings.
"We couldn't commend her enough for exactly the steps she took whether obviously declining the offer, immediately running the opposite direction and going straight to a friend's house and contacting the police," said Officer Bruno. "She couldn't have taken better steps, and we applaud her response, and we say to anybody else in similar circumstances do the exact same thing."
