Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Arrested Man May Not Be Involved in Johnston Abduction

Massachusetts State Police announced they had taken Malcolm Crowell into custody around 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Update, 2:48 p.m.:

Massachusetts State Police apparently did not arrest the man suspected in an early-morning kidnapping in Johnston, despite earlier police reports.

David Procopio, spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police, wrote in an email message sent just before 2:45 p.m.: "We are now being told suspect arrested [in Fall River] is not involved in the abduction" in Johnston.

Procopio referred all further inquiries to the Rhode Island State Police, who previously declined to confirm that Crowell had been arrested in Massachusetts.

Original Post:

The man suspected in an apparent double murder and kidnapping in Johnston has been caught by Massachusetts State Police.

Malcolm Crowell, 22, was taken into custody a little over seven hours after the early-morning homicides, NBC 10 reported on Sunday afternoon.

No information on 2-year-old Isaih Perez, who Crowell is suspected of abducting from the Johnston home, was available at the time, the television station also reported.

Johnston Police responded to 3 Oaktree Drive just after 5:20 a.m. Sunday, and have been investigating the incident.

An Amber Alert was issued Sunday morning, and remained in effect after Crowell's reported capture. Statet Police asked anyone with information to call (401) 46-AMBER [462-6237].

The identities of the victims have not yet been released.


Updated at 2:27 p.m. with contact information for RI State Police.




Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.