Fair 81°
Police & Fire
Man Charged With Antisemitic Vandalism At Mass Jewish Center Man Charged With Antisemitic Vandalism At Mass Jewish Center
Man Charged With Antisemitic Vandalism At Mass Jewish Center A 49-year-old Boston man has been charged with civil rights violations after authorities said he vandalized the Jewish Community Center in Newton this week and intimidated members there earlier this year.  Alexei Rodriguez was arraigned on Friday, May 24, and charged with defacing property, larceny under $1,200, damaging property to intimidate, two counts of assaulting to intimidate, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of a civil rights violation in connection with separate incidents, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office said.  Newton police were call…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man's Body Found In Mass Wastewater Treatment Plant Man's Body Found In Mass Wastewater Treatment Plant
Man's Body Found In Mass Wastewater Treatment Plant Workers at a Brockton wastewater treatment facility found the body of a man floating in the water Friday morning, May 24, authorities said.  The workers called 911 around 8:15 a.m. when they found the man at the 303 Oak Hill Way plant, the Plymouth District Attorney's Office said. The man's name was not released.  Police responded and investigated the scene, and preliminary findings do not suggest foul play, the prosecutor's office said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.  Male Body Found At Brockton Wastewater Treatment Plant, No Foul Play Suspected pic.twitter.com/w…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Double-Fatal Crash: Man, Woman ID'd As Victims After Tractor-Trailer Rolls Over On NY Thruway Double-Fatal Crash: Man, Woman ID'd As Victims After Tractor-Trailer Rolls Over On NY Thruway
Double-Fatal Crash: Man, Woman ID'd As Victims After Tractor-Trailer Rolls Over On NY Thruway Two people were killed in a crash involving a rolled-over tractor-trailer on the New York State Thruway. The crash happened around 8 a.m. Thursday, May 23 in Albany. State Police say an investigation determined that the northbound tractor-trailer struck the concrete barrier separating northbound from southbound traffic.  The collision caused the tractor-trailer to overturn onto a northbound passenger vehicle.  The driver of the tractor-trailer and a passenger of the other vehicle were transported to Albany Medical Center.  A passenger in the tractor-trailer, Massachusetts …

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Prostitution Sting: 8 'Johns' Busted Trying To Pay Springfield Cops For Sex Prostitution Sting: 8 'Johns' Busted Trying To Pay Springfield Cops For Sex
Prostitution Sting: 8 'Johns' Busted Trying To Pay Springfield Cops For Sex Springfield police arrested eight men who tried to pay an undercover officer for sex earlier this week.  The sting operation was held on Wednesday, May 22, after residents in the South End neighborhood complained about seeing prostitution and lewd acts taking place in the open during daylight hours, police said. They also reported seeing violence and drug activity.  Related: 5 Busted In Springfield Prostitution Sting Each of the eight men arrested was charged with paying for sexual conduct. Any additional charges will be included with the men's names.  David Viger, 51, of …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Who Crashed Into Police Chief Twice In Western Mass ID'd, Remains On Run Man Who Crashed Into Police Chief Twice In Western Mass ID'd, Remains On Run
Man Who Crashed Into Police Chief Twice In Western Mass ID'd, Remains On Run Police in New Hampshire are searching for a man officers say intentionally drove into a Franklin County police chief as he was assisting with a traffic stop Tuesday afternoon, May 21. Michael Martelle was identified as the driver who struck Warwick Police Chief David Shoemaker twice just before 3:30 p.m., Warwick police said. He also tried to crash into a police cruiser before speeding off.  The police chief was not seriously injured.  Police attempted to chase Martelle but called it off out of concern for the public's safety. Shortly after, however, officers in Hi…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
2 Men Plead Guilty To Raping Children In Western Mass In Separate Cases 2 Men Plead Guilty To Raping Children In Western Mass In Separate Cases
2 Men Plead Guilty To Raping Children In Western Mass In Separate Cases Two Hampden County men who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting children in separate cases were sentenced to more than a decade in prison each, authorities said on Wednesday, May 22.  Thomas Ciccolini, 48, of Chicopee, admitted on May 9 to eight counts of aggravated rape of a child, two counts of posing a child in a sexual act, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and possession of child pornography, the Hampden District Attorney said.  He was sentenced to 12 to 14 years in prison. The prosecutor asked for up to 18 years.  Roberto Vasquez, 41, of Springfie…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Western Mass Man Who Swindled $300K In Unfinished Construction Projects Gets Up To 10 Years Western Mass Man Who Swindled $300K In Unfinished Construction Projects Gets Up To 10 Years
Western Mass Man Who Swindled $300K In Unfinished Construction Projects Gets Up To 10 Years A Berkshire County man who was found guilty of swindling more than a dozen homeowners and at least one fire department out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for construction work he never completed will spend up to the next decade behind bars, authorities said.  Fred Senter, of Pittsfield, was found guilty of five counts of larceny Over $250 from a victim over 60 years of age, 19 counts of theft of over $1,200, stealing less than $1,200, the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office said.  A judge sentenced him to eight to 10 years in prison. The prosecutor had asked for an 18…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
90 Percent Of Western Mass Motel Destroyed In Late-Night Fire 90 Percent Of Western Mass Motel Destroyed In Late-Night Fire
90 Percent Of Western Mass Motel Destroyed In Late-Night Fire Seventeen people were displaced when a two-alarm fire tore through a well-known, family-owned Franklin County motel over the weekend, authorities said.  The fire began at The Rainbow Motel at 64 State Road in Whately just after midnight on Saturday, May 18, the Whately Fire Department said in a Facebook post. The fire burned so hot and fast that 10 agencies from surrounding communities sent firefighters, equipment, and mutual aid to battle the blaze.  The department said 10 of the 16 motel rooms were heavily burned in the fire.  Luckily, no one was injured, but a Whatel…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Firefighters Battle Train Fire In Western Mass Overnight Firefighters Battle Train Fire In Western Mass Overnight
Firefighters Battle Train Fire In Western Mass Overnight Firefighters in Palmer were called to a train engine fire earlier Sunday morning, May 19, which posed a unique problem.  Crews rushed to the scene just before 4 a.m. to a train stopped by Park Street that had caught fire. Firefighters had to use dry chemical extinguishers rather than hoses until they could be sure the power had been cut.  Once they had confirmed the power was out, they could bring in the hoses to finish the job.  At 03:56, the Palmer Fire Department responded to a report of a train engine fire on Park Street. Upon arrival,... Posted by Palmer Fire Depart…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Third Suspect Busted In Fatal I-391 Shooting In Western Mass Third Suspect Busted In Fatal I-391 Shooting In Western Mass
Guyton Winspeare Was Shot, Killed While Driving In Chicopee Police have arrested a third person they say was involved in the fatal shooting of Guyton Winspeare on a stretch of I-391 in Holyoke two months ago, authorities said.  Miguel Dones, 21, of Springfield, is charged with murder and a slew of drug offenses after police found narcotics and an AR-15-style rifle in his car during a traffic stop, the Hampden District Attorney said.  He was being held on a $25,000 cash bail, but that could change after he is indicted on the murder charge on Monday, May 20, authorities said.  Dones is the third person police have connected to the…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Shot Before Crashing Car Into Worcester Home Has Died Man Shot Before Crashing Car Into Worcester Home Has Died
Man Shot Before Crashing Car Into Worcester Home Has Died A 19-year-old man who was shot while driving and crashed his car into a home in Worcester has died from his injuries more than two weeks later, authorities said.  The man's death was announced on Friday, May 17. Police have not released his name.  Officers said the man crashed his vehicle into a home on Paine Street on April 30, just after 9 p.m. Paramedics rushed him to an area hospital, where he later died of his injuries.  UPDATE 5/17/24: The victim of this shooting has died from his injuries. The incident will now be considered a... Posted by Worcester Police Departm…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Killed In Springfield Shooting ID'd; 14-Year-Old Charged In Slaying Man Killed In Springfield Shooting ID'd; 14-Year-Old Charged In Slaying
Railyn Paredes Paulino ID'd As Phoenix St. Shooting Victim Police have identified a man who was shot and killed more than a month ago in Springfield, and announced they have arrested a 14-year-old and charged him with the killing.  Railyn Paredes Paulino, 20, of Springfield, was found shot and bleeding in the 0-100 block of Phoenix Street in Springfield just before 1:30 p.m. on April 12, authorities said.  Paramedics rushed him to Baystate Medical Center, where he later died of his wounds, Springfield police said.  On Thursday, May 16, police from multiple agencies arrested 14-year-old Legacy Lopez of springfield. He is being h…

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by Josh Lanier