Arrest for Milford Home Invasion Made in Jamaica Plain

Two men were arrested early yesterday — one in Jamaica Plain and one Lexington — and charged with attempted murder in a violent home invasion in Milford, a town about 35 miles southwest of Boston.

Milford Deputy Police Chief James Heron said Milford police assembled a team of officers who early Saturday tracked the suspects to an address in JP. With the assistance of Boston police, the Milford officers surrounded and entered the address at 12:20 a.m.

One of the suspects was apprehended at that time. Heron identified him as Christopher Chicoine, 30, of Milford. Chicoine was taken to Milford Police headquarters.

Another man, David Whaland, 29, who gave a Lexington address, was also arrested in the early morning hours Saturday, police said.

Both men have been charged by Milford Police with home invasion, attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed assault to rob, and assault and battery, said Deputy Chief Heron, who announced the arrests Saturday afternoon.

In the invasion, four Milford residents were overcome by two masked, armed men who broke down the back door of their apartment home at 9 Purchase St. One of the assailants carried an axe, another what witnesses described as a machete.

and a 14-year-old girl were injured by one of the intruders, who struck both victims with the axe during the incident, police said. The man sustained a head wound and an injury to his hand, after he was hit with the blunt end of the axe. The 14-year-old girl had minor injuries to her foot, police said.

Throughout the ordeal, the two suspects repeatedly demanded cash and drugs, police said. The family told them, and the police, that they had no involvement with drugs.

According to Heron, local officers had pursued leads was reported late Tuesday. "This diligent effort resulted in the identification of two suspects who police had learned fled Milford shortly after the incident," he said, in a press release.

According to Heron, after arresting Chicoine yesterday, the Milford officers then traveled to Worcester and located an address where the second suspect, Whaland, was thought to frequent. With assistance of Worcester Police, "the area was surrounded and after a search of the premises it was determined the suspect was not there. Several other leads and addresses in Worcester were also checked," Heron said.

The officers then traveled to Lexington, a suburb of Boston, and located an address with the suspect's vehicle parked out front. Lexington police provided Milford with the assistance of a squad of police officers. The address was surrounded and the premises entered.  At approximately 4:30 a.m., Whaland was arrested without incident, Heron said.

Whaland was booked at Lexington police headquarters and then transported to Milford police headquarters.

Both men are being held in Milford on $10,000 cash bail, pending arraignment.