Commonwealth v. Dise

The primary question on this appeal from the defendant’s convictions of assault with intent to rob and of unarmed robbery is the validity of an arrest in Springfield by police officers of the town of Ludlow. Arguing that this arrest was illegal, the defendant, prior to trial, filed a motion to suppress any evidence, including identifications, obtained as a consequence of the arrest.

The only witnesses at the hearing on the motion were the defendant and the arresting Ludlow police officer, James Nowakowski. Nowakowski’s version of the events, which the judge found credible, was as follows.…