Suspect ducks into business during police chase, applies for job, police say

Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Police in Massachusetts said a suspect who led troopers on a chase tried to hide out by applying for a job, but he was arrested during his interview.

Massachusetts State Police told CBS Boston that Jose Jimenez, 26, of Lawrence, was wanted for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after {link:an incident last week when he ran over a police officer's foot while fleeing a traffic stop, and he again led police on a chase Tuesday.

Troopers said Jimenez managed to lose them before abandoning the Toyota Camry he was driving in a parking lot and running into a nearby business, Osprey Wireless, {link:WCVB reported.

Security camera footage from the business shows Jimenez casually entering the store, resting his arms on the front desk and asking if the shop is hiring.

General Manager Jeff Moran took Jimenez into his office for an interview.

Moran said the man did not give any indication that anything was amiss.

"I introduce myself. He introduces himself to me," Moran told WFXT-TV. "Cool as a cucumber. No sweaty hands, clean shirt, pretty well groomed."

Moran said the interview was going well, so he had Jimenez fill out an application.

Police, meanwhile, discovered the abandoned Camry began searching the vehicle and the surrounding area.

"I see all these police cars from every direction pulling into the parking lot, scrambling around," Moran said. "I said, 'Boy there goes a police dog by the window.' He goes, 'Let me see,' and he gets up, walks to the window."

Service manager Bryan Carpenter said he had a suspicious feeling about the situation and went out to talk to an officer, who showed him a photo of Jimenez.

Carpenter led officers to Jimenez, who was arrested about 8 minutes into his interview.

"They grab him, and he starts to tussle with him," Moran said. "And the other two [troopers] come in, guns in hand. And they said to him, 'You didn't think that we weren't going find you, did you?'"

The security camera footage shows Moran and Carpenter high five and embrace after the arrest.

Jimenez was arrested on charges of assault and battery on a police officer with a dangerous weapon, failure to stop for police, operating a motor vehicle after revocation, operating to endanger and speeding.