State Police Foil Escape to Neverland

BOSTON, July 1, 2013—A man who identified himself as “Peter Pan” was arraigned on boat theft charges today after State Police responded to a 911 call from the vessel’s true owner, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

DEREK RAMSAY (D.O.B. 9/5/86) of Topsham was charged in the Boston Municipal Court with larceny over $250, breaking and entering into a boat, using a boat without authority, and furnishing a false name. Judge Debra Shopteese set bail at $2,000 and revoked his open bail on unrelated larceny charges.

Members of the State Police Marine Section received a call for assistance from the US Coast Guard at about 11:45 on Saturday morning after the owner of a 28’ Chaparral reported that he had watched from his dinghy as an unknown male boarded his boat at Poorman’s Landing and sped off along the Charles River in the direction of the Museum of Science.

Troopers traveled upriver to the scene and soon spotted the craft in question. On approach, they instructed the operator – later identified as Ramsay – to put the vessel in neutral and move the stern.

Ramsay allegedly complied with the first instruction but had to be ordered repeatedly to comply with the latter. When he did, the troopers asked who the owner of the boat was.

“I am,” he allegedly stated.

When asked his name, he allegedly replied, “Peter.” When asked his last name, he allegedly replied, “Pan.”

State Police secured their boat to the stolen vessel and brought Ramsay aboard. During a pat frisk, they recovered a wallet with identification belonging to the boat’s true owner, who had made the initial report, which contained a small quantity of cash. Troopers then placed Ramsay under arrest and brought the stolen boat back to the Marine Section until the owner could retrieve it.

Ramsay was initially brought to the Boston barracks, but because of his erratic behavior he was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, where clinical staff recognized and identified him.

Ramsay was represented by attorney Pamela Harris-Daly. He will return to court on Aug. 2.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.