Thomas Latanowich is lead out of Barnstable Superior Court on Friday (Photo By: John Bondarek- CCB Media News)
BARNSTABLE – Friday morning, in a courtroom packed with members of police departments from across Cape Cod and members of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s department, the suspect in the shooting death of Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon was arraigned on a nine-count grand jury indictment in Barnstable Superior Court.
“We had to show our support for the family of Sean, which is important. This was a moment for our officers to bond together, and watch the process of the justice system in action,” says Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson.
Thomas Latanowich, 30, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery dangerous weapon, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm without a license, subsequent offense, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, mistreating a police dog, and armed career criminal.
Latanowich is accused of fatally shooting Gannon on April 12 as police were attempting to serve a warrant on him in a Marstons Mills home.
Gannon’s K-9 partner, Nero, was also shot, and continues to recover.
Latanowich is being held without bail, His next court appearance was scheduled for November 30th for a pre-trial conference.
He previously pleaded not guilty to similar charges prior his indictment by the grand jury earlier this summer.
Latanowich is a known career criminal with 125 prior charges. His arrest prompted an outcry in the community and call for reform of the criminal justice system that allows suspects with multiple prior charges to remain on the street when they are arrested for new offenses.
“We are going to give him a very robust and vigorous defense. One thing that I must emphasize is this young man is presumed innocent and this trial is going to be held in the courtroom. It is not going to be held out here, it is not going to be held based on a show of police force, its not going to be held in the court of public opinion, it is going to be held in the courtroom,” said Latanowich’s attorney, Joseph Krowski Jr. of Brockton.
Latanowich has faced little prison time for his extensive crimes, only serving time from 2010 – 2014 for various gun and drug charges. He was able to avoid imprisonment through a combination of not-guilty findings by judges, failure of key witnesses to testify, and outright dismissal of charges.
By ROB WOODARD & JOHN BONDAREK, CapeCod.Com News Center
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