Mass. Most Wanted With Ties To Southbridge & Woodstock Captured
Massachusetts State Police
A suspect, recently added to the Massachusetts State Police Most Wanted Fugitives list was captured on Thursday afternoon in New Jersey after the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section and US Marshals developed information that he was hiding there.
47 year old Stephen Cote was arrested by New Jersey officers as he got out of a car in the parking lot of the Westgate apartment complex in Lakewood, NJ.
In June, police had said he had ties to people in both Southbridge and Woodstock.
Troopers and US Marshals in Springfield were able to track Cote down using information about his location and the vehicle he might be driving and forwarded it to the NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Members of that Task Force began working the case and today set up surveillance outside the apartment complex where he was believed to be staying. After several hours of surveillance, Task Force members spotted Cote drive into the parking lot.
Police identified him and placed him into custody on an outstanding warrant.
Cote was wanted by the Massachusetts State Police, the Northampton Police Department, and federal law enforcement authorities for receipt of material involving sexual exploitation of minors. An arrest warrant was issued in November 2015, but he went on the run at that time and has been sought ever since.
Cote will be held until his arraignment in federal court in the near future.