Police Officer Draws Gun While Making Arrests After Short Pursuit

An Arlington police officer drew his gun and pointed it at two men while making two arrests Friday afternoon just over the town line in the Giles Fine Wine parking lot in West Medford.

The incident began shortly after 1 p.m. when the officer, who was driving an unmarked cruiser on Chestnut Street, pulled up to the Medford Street light at Warren Street. When the light turned green, the vehicle in front of him, a 1997 Buick Skylark, accelerated at an “unreasonable and improper” speed, according to the police report.

The car was soon traveling at 43 mph, and after it passed a “clearly visible” 35 mph speed-limit sign, the officer activated his emergency lights and sirens at Hamlet Street, according to the report.

The car continued to travel on Medford Street, toward the Mystic Valley Parkway rotary, without slowing down, according to the report. The officer then radioed dispatch that he was involved in a pursuit, and they contacted additional Arlington units and Medford police.

The car took the High Street bridge into Medford and then an immediate right onto Jermone Street. It then stopped in the Giles Fine Wine parking lot, according to the report.

The car’s driver then exited his vehicle without being told to do so.

“I felt that my safety was at risk due to the fact that the driver had failed to stop and now was acting in an unreasonable manner by exiting a vehicle that just attempted to elude police,” the officer wrote in his report.

“I also immediately recognized the operator as Casey Kolenda who has a history of violent offenses as well as assaulting police officers and resisting arrest,” the officer continued.

The officer drew his weapon and ordered Kolenda to the ground. However, Kolenda refused the order and took steps toward the officer, according to the report.

The officer repeated the command, and this time, Kolenda complied.

The vehicle’s passenger then exited without being told to do so. The officer trained his weapon on the passenger and ordered him to the ground as well. The passenger took a step toward the officer and then went to the ground, according to the report.

The officer continued to point his gun at both men until another Arlington officer arrived on scene and handcuffed them.

The driver, Casey R. Kolenda, 26, of Ceylon Street, Dorchester, was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle after a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle with a revoked registration, failure to stop for police and speeding.

The passenger, Matthew Cody, 23, of Park Terrace, Arlington, was also arrested and charged with being in possession of a Class B drug and carrying a dangerous weapon. Police allegedly found the drugs on him, and an 18-inch wooden billy club underneath his seat.

Correction: An initial version of this article reported that the passenger was not charged.